Note: The article appears in the April 12, 2010, hard version of Time Magazine. It was available online on April 5.
FLUORIDE
What It Is: A form of the basic element fluorine
Found In: Toothpaste, tap water
Health Hazards: Neurotoxic and potentially tumorigenic if swallowed; the American Dental Association advises that children under 2 not use fluoride toothpaste
What You Should Know: Government studies support current fluoride levels in tap water, but studies on long-term exposure and cancers are ongoing
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Environmental Toxins
Chemicals in plastics and other products seem harmless, but mounting evidence links them to health problems — and Washington lacks the power to protect us
List of the Top 10 Common Household Toxins
1. The Hazards Lurking at Home
3. Oxybenzone
4. Fluoride
5. Parabens
6. Phthalates
7. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
8. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
9. Perchlorate
10. Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DECA)
11. Asbestos