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Debunking Common Myths About Working with Chemicals

The prevailing conception concerning chemicals is their danger, since thoughts dwell on chemical explosions and fires. However, everything we utilize is composed of chemicals, and we are not experiencing spontaneous explosions and fires in everyday life. Bell Chem, your chemical supplier, wants to quell a few chemical myths. 

Only chemists use chemicals.

Chemicals are used by everyone every day. From ammonia to the zinc in your sunscreen, chemicals are in your skin care products, foods, medicines, and other products consumed daily. 

In manufacturing, chemicals are used within products and act as cleaners to maintain a safe environment for products used by consumers and industries worldwide. 

If it is approved, it must be safe.

Chemicals undergo a strong battery of tests under varied conditions to determine their level of safety. If a chemical is flammable, a warning is applied and specific protective advice is recommended. As long as the product is used in accordance with the recommendations, the product is considered safe. This means the end user must read and follow all recommendations and ensure the environment and employees maintain a level of appropriate safety.

Chemicals are all poisonous.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are only two of the organizations responsible for overseeing chemicals. The regulations they mandate are followed closely by manufacturers to ensure use of those chemicals is safe for everyday citizens. Many chemicals are considered safe in small doses or in specific situations but extremely dangerous in large amounts or outside the given boundaries. In other words, it may depend on the dosage as to whether a chemical is poisonous or not.

If it looks safe, it is safe.

Think about a fine, powdery white substance. It could be powdered sugar, or it could be white phosphorous, or possibly silica dust. While the first substance is considered non-toxic, the other 2 are deadly to humans if ingested or inhaled. 

Likewise, some substances are not dangerous unless they are placed near an open flame, in which case they could combust. The majority of chemicals are innocuous when used correctly.


Bell Chem is your chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us a message.