The study does not, however, prove that the signals from sweat that the participants' brains responded to are "pheromones, " chemicals found in animals that communicate information and influence responses in behavior and physiology.

CNN: Sweat may give off stress signals, study says

In the meantime, consumers can find at least some information about products containing these chemicals in reports from independent organizations.

FORBES: Report Finds Toxic Levels of Phthalates Lurking in Popular Back-to-School Items

Union Carbide, a chemicals firm, has a link to information on the deadly Bhopal gas leak in India on its home page, for example.

ECONOMIST: Corporate history

MRI, first developed 30 years ago, is based on a well established scientific technique, nuclear magnetic resonance, which uses the interaction of magnetic fields with the spin of the nuclei of atoms to provide detailed information on the constituents of chemicals and biological materials.

BBC: Study into health impact of MRI

The main contributors to the drop in output were electronic parts and devices, information and communication electronics equipment and chemicals, said the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

BBC: Japan's industrial output slips as demand remains subdued

These include agriculture and livestock, aquaculture and fisheries, chemicals, energy, food, forestry, health, information and communication, mining, tourism, waste, and water.

FORBES: Rio+20: Is It The Future Business Wants?

Those actions fell under the Rotterdam Convention, which regulates information about the export and import of 43 hazardous chemicals.

NPR: Nations Agree To New Chemical Ban, Export Controls

For more information about how to protect yourself and your kids from these household chemicals, and to get involved in policy change, see the press release here.

FORBES: The Chemicals In Your Couch May Pose Serious Health Risks

While the recycling numbers at the bottom of plastic items "are not meant to provide health information or risks, " Dr. Halden says, they can sometimes provide clues to the chemicals in them.

WSJ: Is It Safe to Heat Food in Plastic?