Every fact on this site, with its evidence grade, its caveats and a link to the source.
We start you on the strong ones: findings that have been replicated or come from one large, well-controlled study. Moderate and weak facts are here too, labeled for what they are. Use “Link to this fact” to share a single card.
What you can do / Review of other studies
Never mix bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners: 13 published poisoning reports, including one death, came from mixing products.
Strong evidence: Case reports; not fragrance-related.
Source: Nazaroff & Weschler 2004, Atmospheric Environment Link to this fact
What you can do / Review of other studies
Choosing fragrance-free personal care products is a reasonable way to cut DEP exposure, since DEP is used as a fragrance solvent; label reading alone will not catch phthalates.
Strong evidence: Reasoned advice; not tested as an intervention in this paper.
Source: Crinnion 2010, Alternative Medicine Review Link to this fact
What you can do / Measured in people or real products
If you have unexplained or recurring dermatitis, ask whether patch testing will include oxidized linalool (and oxidized limonene); standard fragrance tests missed 60% of these allergies.
Strong evidence: Hydroperoxide tests now recommended for baseline series in Europe.
Source: Christensson 2012, Contact Dermatitis Link to this fact
What you can do / Review of other studies
Never mix bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners: it makes toxic chloramine or chlorine gas.
Strong evidence: Established chemistry; review restates it.
Source: Salonen 2024, Environment International Link to this fact
What you can do / Measured in people or real products
Choosing fragrance-free cosmetic and personal care products is an effective way to cut DEP exposure, since fragrance is consistently the most DEP-dense product category across three independent national surveys and DEP is never named on a label when present via fragrance.
Strong evidence: Based on product-content measurement across three independent surveys (Hubinger & Havery 2006, Dodson 2012, Koniecki 2011), not a tested behavioral intervention.
Source: Koniecki 2011, Environmental Research Link to this fact
Information, not medical advice. See also: myths we won’t tell you.