Tag: Industrial chemicals

According to 2019 FDA data, glycerin is the third most frequently used ingredient in cosmetics, featured in thousands of products. This versatile sugar alcohol is used extensively across multiple industries, so knowing what has a lot of glycerin in it can help inform consumer choices and highlight its ubiquitous nature.

While most people associate iron with dietary intake, the largest and most foundational sources are geological deposits found deep within the Earth's crust. So, which is the main source of iron salts, and how do these sources vary depending on their intended use?

Over 1.7 billion tons of plastic were produced globally in 2022, with a significant portion relying on chemical additives to ensure durability. Antioxidant additives are crucial to this process, working to stabilize polymers and other materials against the harmful effects of oxidation. These substances act as a defense against natural degradation, protecting the integrity, functionality, and lifespan of finished products.

Bromide ions, which are derived from compounds like sodium bromide, possess a long biological half-life in the human body, typically lasting over a week. This causes bromide to accumulate with repeated exposure, making it profoundly unsafe to eat sodium bromide, as it can lead to a toxic syndrome known as bromism.

A 2010 study published in the journal *PLOS One* found that acetate, a metabolite of alcohol, contributes to delayed alcohol-induced headaches in sensitized rats by increasing adenosine levels in the brain. This key finding helps distinguish the cause of hangover headaches from previously suspected acetaldehyde.

According to chemical safety data sheets, ingesting concentrated sodium carbonate, commonly known as soda ash, can cause severe internal burns and poisoning. Despite its name, this substance is a strong alkaline industrial chemical, and there are absolutely no legitimate health benefits of drinking soda ash.

According to the World Health Organization, the typical dietary intake of naturally occurring formaldehyde for an average adult is in the safe range of 1.5–14 mg per day. The rumor that broccoli contains harmful formaldehyde has spread concern among health-conscious consumers, but the answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

Tannic acid, a form of hydrolysable tannin, is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in a wide variety of plants, including tree bark, leaves, and unripe fruits. The availability of tannic acid depends on whether you are seeking small quantities from everyday sources or purchasing a specific grade for commercial or scientific use.

Chemically, malonic acid, a dicarboxylic acid with the formula $C_3H_4O_4$, is well-known in biochemistry as a powerful competitive inhibitor of the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase, impacting cellular respiration. However, its functions extend far beyond this enzymatic role into widespread and diverse industrial and biological applications.

Sodium carbonate is a caustic industrial chemical known as soda ash or washing soda, and is not meant for human consumption. This compound is frequently confused with sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, which is the substance used for certain medicinal and dietary purposes.