ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with organic chemicals, although some inorganic chemicals are mentioned for completeness. Organic contaminants are chemical compounds that contain carbon–hydrogen bonds in their basic molecular structures, where most of them are mixtures. The clinician will have to settle for a group of chemicals that make up the total body pollutant load and eliminate these for successful prescription for health. The oxidative stress and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptors of the sensory nerves, blood vessels, and immune system appear to be the main triggering mechanisms for most of these chemicals, resulting in chemical sensitivity and chronic degenerative diseases. Various industrial processes and methods of chemical synthesis specific to this industry use hydrocarbons as their starting material. The primary sources of these hydrocarbons are crude oil, natural gas, and coal. The primary products produced from these raw materials are hydrogen, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, 1-butane, 1,5-butane, 1,3-butadiene, acetylene, propylene, benzene, toluene, and o-and p-xylene.
