The Toxies Awards selected Halogenated Flame Retardant (HFR) as the worst chemical of the year, based on its dangerous impacts. HFR is used in furniture, electronics and building insulation, and can be found in nearly the entire U.S. population. It is commonly found in products such as car seats, mattresses, couches and cribs.  HFR has been linked to negative effects on the brain (lower IQ), endocrine and reproductive systems (cancer and infertility). Runners up for the 2011 Toxies Award include:

Lead: linked to learning disabilities, cancer, behavioral development problems and higher risk of heart attacks. 

Mercury:  damages the nervous system and causes birth defects. 

Perchloroethylene: used in 80 percent of U.S. dry cleaners but can lead to dizziness, nausea and organ damage. 

Triclosan: used in personal care products but builds up in bodies and is linked to cancer, thyroid disruption and the rise in antibiotic-resistant germs. 

Perchlorate:  a major actor in solid rocket fuel, airbags and fireworks that is found in drinking water; can interfere with iodide uptake in the thyroid. 

Dioxin: found throughout the food chain and linked to carcinogenic, reproductive, developmental, immunological, and endocrine side effects. 

Bisphenol-a: found in food packaging, water bottle, receipt paper and other applications; linked to heart disease, reproductive issues, lower sex drive, and other maladies. 

Methyl iodide: carcinogen used in industrial processes and laboratory research before emerging as a pesticide. 

Formaldehyde: long used as an embalming liquid and fungicide, now appears in paints, cleaning supplies and other common products. Linked to asthma and part of the "Toxic Trio" that also includes Toluene (an organic solvent found in paints, glues and cleaning products) and dibutyl-phthalate (DBP), a plasticizer used in nail polish.