Glossary

Decode the eco-speak with our friendly glossary list of green buzzwords and certifications.

Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach): Highly caustic and may cause skin irritation and redness. Its fumes can irritate eyes, nose and airways and it can be fatal if swallowed. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, chlorine-based bleaches caused 19,581 poisonings in U.S. children less than 6 years of age in 2005. Chlorine also poses a hazard because it can react with other cleaners to form toxic gases.
Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate: Found in almost every conventional shampoo, the detergent and sudsing agent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a skin irritant that is widely used in lab studies to trigger acute contact dermatitis. Plus, a 2001 study determined that SLS aggravates scales on the hair follicle, causing damage rather than conditioning. Some shampoos labeled "organic" and "natural" contain a derivative, sodium laureth sulfate, which is gentler on the scalp, but can be contaminated with the probable human carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.
Super absorbent polymer (SAP): Sodium polyacrylate crystals used in diapers to absorb moisture. When wet, SAP turns into a gel that can end up on baby’s skin and potentially be ingested if the diaper tears. SAP can cause skin and gastrointestinal irritation.
Styrene: Used in polystyrene foam, styrene might disrupt hormones and reproduction and is a possible human carcinogen according to the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Salmonella: A bacteria that can contaminate food and is one of the most frequent causes of food poisoning. Salmonella infection causes fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Most cases clear up without treatment within a week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but some infections can be severe, particularly among infants and elderly people, and in rare cases, can cause death.