OFFLINE

Beware of Toxic Air Fresheners

If you use synthetic air fresheners in your car and/or living space,
you should know that you're likely increasing risk of developing a
variety of health problems. Headaches, earaches, depression, an
irregular heart beat, and diarrhea in babies are just a few of many
health challenges that have been linked to regular use of synthetic
air fresheners.

A report that was released in September of 2007 by the Natural
Resources Defense Council found that 12 of 14 brands of common
household air fresheners contained phthalates. Phthalates are
chemicals that are used to prolong the length of time that scented
products maintain their fragrance. Regular exposure to phthalates can
increase your risk of experiencing endocrine, reproductive, and
developmental problems. Amazingly, some of the brands that tested
positive for phthalates did not include phthalates on their lists of
ingredients; some of these brands were even labeled as being
"all-natural" and "unscented."

In response to this study, the National Resources Defense Council
produced the following list that indicates the presence or absence of
phthalates in common air fresheners:

Highest levels of phthalates:

Walgreens Air Freshener Spray (removed from shelves)
Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Fresheners (removed from shelves)
Walgreens Solid Air Fresheners (removed from shelves)
Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer

Medium levels of phthalates:

Air Wick Scented Oil
Febreze NOTICEables Scented Oil
Glade Air Infusions
Glade PlugIn Scented Oil
Oust Air Sanitizer Spray

Low levels or no phthalates detected:

Citrus Magic
Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher
Lysol Brand II Disinfectant
Oust Fan Liquid Refills
Renuzit Subtle Effects

Please note that having no phthalates does not make synthetic air
fresheners safe to use in your car or home. The vast majority of
synthetic air fresheners emit significant amounts of terpene, a
volatile organic compound that can react with naturally occurring
ozone to create formaldehyde. Ozone, a form of oxygen, exists at some
level both indoors and outdoors, so formaldehyde formation is
practically inevitable wherever synthetic air fresheners are used.
Indoor environments that tend to have elevated levels of ozone include
those where photocopiers and ozone-generating air purifiers are used.

Why should you be concerned about exposure to formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer.

Given all of the above, it's not surprising that a study that was
published in a 2007 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and
Critical Care Medicine indicates that regular use of sprays can
increase your risk of developing asthma by 30 to 50 percent. This
study was performed by the European Community Respiratory Health
Survey, and collected data from 3,500 people in 10 European countries.

Clearly, your health is best served by minimizing exposure to
synthetic air fresheners and other synthetic products that are
designed to emit a prolonged artificial scent.

Here are some simple and natural ways of keeping your car and living
space smelling fresh without using chemical-laden air fresheners:

Open your windows - even just a crack during cold weather - for at
least 30 minutes a day. Weather permitting, it's best to keep your
windows open all the time, assuming that you don't live in a heavily
polluted area.
Sprinkle baking soda on carpets before you vacuum.
Keep a box of baking soda open in the room.
Keep natural (preferably organic) potpourri in a bowl out in the open,
or put into little sachets to keep around the house.
Maintain a friendly gathering of indoor plants in your living and work spaces.
Take the garbage and compost out every day.