Think you can freshen the bathroom air a bit with one of the many air fresheners on the market? Well, it may help the room smell better, but the fumes it creates aren’t worth the fragrance.
A 2007 survey by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) evaluated 14 air fresheners and found phthalates in 12 of them, including those labeled as “all-natural.” (Phthalates are used to make the scent last longer, and are hormone disruptors and probable carcinogens.) The NRDC’s report says, “Of all the products in the home, clean-smelling air fresheners seem to pose little risk. But the fresh scent of air fresheners may mask a health threat-chemicals called phthalates that can cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems.”
According to the Global Campaign for the Recognition of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), air fresheners work in one of four ways:
1. by killing your ability to smell through nerve-deadening chemicals;
2. by coating your nasal passages with an undetectable oily film;
3. by covering up one smell with another;
4. (rarely) by breaking down the offensive odor.
They go on to say that a 2002 EPA test found that fresheners plugged into electrical outlets react with common indoor air pollutants to produce toxic chemicals like benzene derivatives, pinene and limonene, aldehydes, phenol, and cresol. Pinene and limonene apparently react with ozone to create formaldehyde and other chemicals connected with respiratory problems. Other toxic chemicals found in air freshener plug-ins include benzyl alcohol, camphor (known to cause eye and skin irritation), dichlorobenzene (toxic to the nervous system), ethanol (derived from petroleum and considered carcinogenic), and more. The MCS concludes, “Indoor air quality experts recommend against using chemical air fresheners and/or chemical room deodorizers of any kind.”
Even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns against the use of indoor air fresheners: “There are four basic ingredients in air fresheners: formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p-dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants. Air fresheners are usually highly flammable and also strong irritants to the eyes, skin, and throat.”
So what if you want to clear the air in your house? These organizations have several recommendations. The NRDC says that, since it’s currently impossible for consumers to tell the phthalate content of any freshener (since they don’t appear on the label), that consumers should avoid air fresheners completely. The EPA suggests using baking soda instead, which is non-toxic. The MCS suggests finding and removing sources of bad odors, keeping windows open, adding drops of organic essential oils to cotton balls and placing around the house, simmering desirable spices like cinnamon and cloves in a little water on the stovetop, and investing in an air purifier with carbon filtration.
What do you do to keep your home smelling nice-and phthalate free? Let us know.
Photo courtesy KnoxvilleRob via Flickr.com.
Thank you…for sharing new-found info (for me) and many others, I’m sure….on the health hazards of air fresheners. Have read that on rare occasions, plug-ins could be considered a fire hazard also. Great job on your in-depth article.
I’m glad that you took some new information away from this article. Thank you for commenting and sharing additional info for everyone to learn about! – Britta
I agree completely about most air fresheners. That’s why we developed JulAir. It’s made with natural essential oils including Australian Tea Tree oil which leaves the space really fresh and clean.
It really works and disappears within a couple minutes after neutralizing any odors in the bathroom, pet areas and more.
Please check out http://www.julair.com for more information. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing this link and information with us Julia. I feel good about your product because it only contains essential oils and water! Thanks for making safe products that are good for our health! – Britta
You forgot to mention that research that indicates that Phthalates may be a factor in a lot of different cancers. I keep well away from any type hormone disruptor as there is major research showing that these type of chemicals cause damage.
Most people buy air freshners to “clean” their air but i always think that air freshned air (with scent) actually just smells worse. I agree with the epa advice that people should only use homemade odour cleaners and air purifiers.
One thing that you should be aware of is to not for an air purifier that uses ozone – as this toxic and may also lead to health damges. Try to only look at HEPA and Carbon based filter purifiers althought they will cost more.
Thanks for highlighting this issue – not enough bloggers take the issue of air freshners seriously.
Thanks
Danny
Thank you for commenting Danny. I will be sure to look into the information you shared concerning Ozone. I know that in the spa, these are in the mag lamps that estheticians use to keep the steam sanitary for clients but I didn’t know that it could be a potential health hazard. Thank you for helping to spread the word. – Britta
Thanks so much for posting this information. Phthalates pose such potential health risks and the only way people will know is by our spreading the message. Please keep this type of information coming.