In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) reviewed studies on Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Bisphenol-S (BPS) in thermal receipt paper, used for grocery, pharmacy, and restaurant receipts. They cited research showing BPA levels in receipts are 250-1,000 times higher than in canned food, with 54-79 micrograms/cm² in half of 18 tested Minnesota businesses. These chemicals absorb through skin, especially in cashiers handling receipts often.

In 2023, Carly Fraser from Live Love Fruit reviewed research on harmful chemicals in shampoos, focusing on sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and synthetic fragrances. These are linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and environmental damage, with studies showing SLS causes skin sensitivity in 40% of users, and parabens mimic estrogen, raising breast cancer risk by 10-20% in some lab tests.

Scented candles—especially paraffin-based—don’t just smell cozy. Multiple studies show they release toxic chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, carbon monoxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—many of which are carcinogenic, hormone-disrupting, or linked to respiratory disease.

A 2025 study by UC Davis analyzed 201 toddlers (ages 2–4) from four U.S. states and found 96 different chemicals in their urine—48 found in over half of the kids, 34 in more than 90%—many not even tracked by national surveys.