Why is air fresheners hazardous

The information below addresses the health and safety concerns of air fresheners and provides accurate information on effective ways to control indoor air pollution. Air fresheners can impact indoor air quality by adding potentially hazardous pollutants to the air.

The use of air fresheners is associated with elevated levels of volatile organic compounds VOCs , such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes, in indoor air.

These VOCs are often difficult to smell in the air, but they can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as cause headaches and nausea. The types and amounts of VOCs emitted depend primarily on the fragrance composition of the air freshener, not on the type of air freshener.

It can be difficult or impossible to find out the ingredients in air fresheners, because manufacturers are not required to disclose the complete list of ingredients.

Air fresheners can add VOCs and other pollutants to the air through direct emissions from fresheners as well as through secondary reaction products from the freshener chemicals reacting with constituents such as ozone that are already in the air. For example, air freshener emissions can react with naturally-occurring indoor air compounds, such as ozone, to produce secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde.

The types and amounts of secondary pollutants produced are influenced by factors such as air freshener ingredients, concentrations, and product usage. The use of air fresheners can increase exposure levels to air pollutants. Title: Behind the label: Air Fresheners - Beware! Artificial scents can mask a multitude of harmful ingredients. Beyond Toxics is a c 3 non-profit organization and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.

Please consider giving a gift of a Beyond Toxics membership to a friend or family member! Jackson County Office N. Main St. Mailing Address P. Box Eugene, OR Potential hazards In , the Bureau European des Unions de Consommateurs published a comparative study about home fragrances and measured the concentration of volatile organic compounds VOCs and aldehydes, potent neurotoxins that attack the central and peripheral nervous systems, in the air after their use.

Keep solid air fresheners out of reach of pets or children, as they can be deadly if ingested. Air fresheners are highly irritating to eyes, skin, and throat. But certainly some of the chemicals that have been measured from air fresheners should draw caution. For perspective on this issue, think about what your lungs experience daily, says Pinkerton.

Either the particles are not toxic or we filter them out. When considering the potential health risks of using a product like air fresheners, you have to consider the weakest links.

In this case that means people whose lungs are already susceptible such as asthma sufferers or people with COPD and children. Davis School of Medicine. Volatile organic compounds VOCs are airborne gas byproducts emitted by a wide array of household products, from paints to disinfectants and automotive products, says the Environmental Protection Agency.

Depending on your exposure and sensitivity, toxic VOCs can produce a range of health effects, including eye, nose, and throat irritation, nausea and headaches, and even damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system, says the EPA, which offers a complete list of symptoms. Ultra fine particles have been linked with heart and lung disease, and respiratory difficulties. To minimize your exposure to VOCs, the EPA recommends increasing ventilation when using products that emit VOCs, meeting or exceeding any label precautions, and throwing away unused or little-used containers safely.

The scientific community seriously examined air freshener safety about a decade ago. Studies revealed that an abundance of potentially dangerous chemicals and chemical byproducts—such as formaldehyde—are released with each perfumed puff. A study published in the journal Science of The Total Environment assessed the health risks of breathing in those chemicals in a realistic scenario: In a home while using other household products that contain the same ingredients.

Before you throw away all your household cleaners and scented sprays, consider this statement made by one of the study authors, Dr. According to the World Health Organization , other indoor sources of formaldehyde include: resins found in particleboard and plywood, paints, varnishes, household cleaning products, cosmetics, and more.

Worried about formaldehyde exposure in your home? Formaldehyde air testing kits and monitors are available at numerous retailers. If not possible to remove, reduce exposure by using a sealant on all exposed surfaces of paneling and other furnishings.

If your pregnant daughter-in-law or young grandchildren spend a lot of time at your house, you might reconsider your home-deodorizing habit. Phthalates, which are used to dissolve and carry fragrance, are linked to changes in hormone levels, poor semen quality, birth defects and reproductive harm, says the NRDC report. Even essential oils emit similar chemicals to air fresheners. Another way to freshen up your home: Just open the windows.

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