MONARCH

Lead is a naturally-occurring element that is highly toxic to humans, especially children. Lead exposure can affect almost every organ in the body, and can cause reproductive toxicity in both men and women.

Cadmium is a heavy metal that is produced during the smelting of other economically significant metals, such as copper and zinc. Much of the cadmium exposure in humans comes from foods grown in cadmium-contaminated soil.

Phthalates are manmade chemicals that are used to increase durability and flexibility in plastic products. As these common household products break down over time (normal wear and tear), the phthalates are slowly released into the environment.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, refer to a suite of chemicals that are used to make products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Due to their inherent nature, PFAS do not break down over time, making them “forever chemicals” that bioaccumulate in our environment and our bodies.

Hexavalent chromium is one form (VI) of elemental chromium. Sometimes mistakes in leather manufacturing can result in chromium VI residues in the finished leather.

Hexavalent chromium is a well established carcinogen.

TiO2 is one form of titanium, a common metal. It’s often used as a coloring agent in foods, candies, and cosmetics (pigment grade TiO2), or to absorb ultraviolet light in sunscreens (nanomaterial TiO2). In either form, titanium dioxide becomes dangerous when it is found in airborne, unbound particles of respirable size.