Chemophobia

Chemophobia (or chemphobia or chemonoia)^[1]^[2] is an aversion to or prejudice against chemicals or chemistry. The phenomenon has been ascribed both to a reasonable concern over the potential adverse effects of synthetic chemicals, and to an irrational fear of these substances because of misconceptions about their potential for harm, particularly the possibility of certain exposures to some synthetic chemicals elevating an individual's risk of cancer.^[3]^[4] Consumer products with labels such as "natural" and "chemical-free" (the latter being impossible if taken literally, since all consumer products consist of chemical substances) appeal to chemophobic sentiments by offering consumers what appears to be a safer alternative (see appeal to nature).

^ Ropeik, D. (2015). "On the roots of, and solutions to, the persistent battle between "chemonoia" and rationalist denialism of the subjective nature of human cognition". Human & Experimental Toxicology. 34 (12): 1272–1278. doi:10.1177/0960327115603592. PMID 26614815.
^ "Chemonoia: the fear blinding our minds to real dangers". BBC News. 25 February 2016.
^ Cite error: The named reference laszlo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference shim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] Ropeik, D. (2015). "On the roots of, and solutions to, the persistent battle between "chemonoia" and rationalist denialism of the subjective nature of human cognition". Human & Experimental Toxicology. 34 (12): 1272–1278. doi:10.1177/0960327115603592. PMID 26614815.

[2] "Chemonoia: the fear blinding our minds to real dangers". BBC News. 25 February 2016.

[laszlo-3] Cite error: The named reference laszlo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[shim-4] Cite error: The named reference shim was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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