Chemical Profile: BHT & BHA

Chemical Profile MADE SAFE Blog

What They Are

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) are closely related chemicals that are commonly used as preservatives. These can be found in many personal care products including lip and hair products, makeup, sunscreen, shampoos, deodorants, fragrance, and creams. BHT and BHA are also in many food products, such as cereals, snack foods, and processed meats, and can even be found in in the lining of food packages. BHT is also a toluene-based ingredient; toluene is part of the so-called “toxic trio” commonly found in nail polish and is linked to reproductive harm.

MADE SAFE Chemical Profile BHT BHA Infographic

The Health Concern

BHT and BHA are chemical cousins linked to a wide range of health concerns, including organ system toxicity, skin irritation, and more. The National Toxicology Program classifies BHA as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” Plus, the European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has listed BHA as a Category 1 endocrine disruptor, meaning there’s comprehensive evidence of endocrine disrupting effects. BHA has been linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity and also been identified on California’s Proposition 65 list as a possible carcinogen.

How to Avoid Them

  • Read labels to avoid BHT (butylated hydroxytoleune) and BHA (butulated hydroxyanisole).
  • Choose food products that do not contain artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT, and eat fresh food instead of packaged food when you can.

References

[1] Environment and Climate Change Canada. (n.d.). Search engine for the results of domestic substances list categorization: butylated hydroxytoluene. Government of Canada. Accessed Jun 26, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=D031CB30-1


[2] Chemsec: The International Chemical Secretariat. (2017). Search the SIN (substitute it now) list: butylated hydroxyanisole. Accessed Jun 26, 2017. Retrieved from http://sinlist.chemsec.org/


[3] Chemsec: The International Chemical Secretariat. (2017). Search the SIN (substitute it now) list: butylated hydroxyanisole. Accessed Jun 26, 2017. Retrieved from http://sinlist.chemsec.org/


[4] Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, (OEHHA). (1990). Butylated hydroxyanisole. California Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed Jun 26, 2017. Retrieved from https://oehha.ca.gov/chemicals/butylated-hydroxyanisole


[5] National Toxicology Program, (NTP). (2016). Report on carcinogens, fourteenth edition: Butylated hydroxyanisole. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. National Institutes of Health. 


[6] International Agency for Research on Cancer, (IARC). (1986). IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans: Some naturally occurring and synthetic food components, furocoumarins and ultraviolet radiation. (No. 40). Lyon, France: World Health Organization.

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