Phenol intolerance - Nature Cures®

Many synthetic food additives are now derived from petroleum or crude oil such as

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) E321
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) E392
Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) E319, E320

Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), also known as INS 319, is an aromatic organic compound which is a type of phenol used as a food preservative which is a form of butane. It is also used in the stabilisation process of explosive compounds.

Phenol additives can be found in the following foods:

Baked goods
Bread
Butter
Cooking oil
Crackers
Crisps
Doughnuts
Fast foods
Instant noodles
Margarine
Nuts
Oreo biscuits
Pet foods
Popcorn
Ready meals
Resins
Varnish
Waffles

Children’s foods containing tertiary butylhydroquinone

Pop-tarts,
Rice Krispies
Cheez-Its,
Little Debbie Swiss Rolls
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Other household products that contain phenols

Acne medications
Aerosol disinfectants
Air fresheners
All-purpose cleaners
Aspirin
Cleaning products
Cosmetics
Deodorants
Detergents
Disinfecting cleaners
Furniture polish
Hair spray
Lacquers
Lotions
Mouthwash
Shampoo
Skincare products for adults and babies.
Sunscreens
Varnishes

Phenol is also a large component of phenolic adhesives which are used in adhering plywood and other composite type woods.

It is also present in plastics, fertilisers, paints and textiles within the home. Because phenol is added to herbicides and fertilisers, it’s important to also mention that drinking water can contain phenols, which is considered a toxic contaminant.

Consuming high doses (1-4 g) of tertiary butylhydroquinone can cause the following symptoms:

Asthma
Collapse
Delirium
Dermatitis
Hyperactivity in children
Nausea and vomiting
Restlessness
Rhinitis (inflammation inside the nose)
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Phenols may also aggravate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD symptoms). They can also affect oestrogen levels in women and cause harm to the unborn foetus. There are also reports that they cause infertility in both males and females..

Skin exposure may result in onychronosis (yellowing of the skin), skin irritation and skin eruption, as well as dermal inflammation and necrosis. Phenol may also cause symptoms such as anorexia, headache, vertigo, salivation, dark urine, and increased skin pigmentation.

Phenolic compounds are regularly found throughout the environment in thousands of items including most foods and chemicals. Many forms of asthma are caused by allergic reactions from both airborne phenolic compounds and those found in foods. It is difficult to avoid phenols as one of them, gallic acid, occurs in about 70% of the foods humans consume.

For natural alternative household products see>> Hygiene, toxins and health

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