Air Fresheners are Toxic!

Chemical air fresheners in all commercial forms are toxic and dangerous to your health! Whatever form they take – candles, aerosol sprays, potpourri, gels, wicks, mechanical or heat release products[1] – they release a plethora of harsh chemicals that can aggravate asthma, lower immunity and affect reproductive development.

In recent studies of commercial air fresheners, virtually NONE were shown to be safe. All products tested had one or more of the issues listed below:

• Gave off chemicals regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, including carcinogens with no safe exposure level


• Contain phthalates – hormone-disrupting chemicals


• Contain chemicals like acetone, the active ingredient in paint thinner and nail-polish remover; chloromethane, a neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant; and acetaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, both carcinogens.
• Cause increased earaches and diarrhea in infants


• Cause headaches, breathing difficulties, or other health problems


• Can cause depression


• Even air fresheners called "organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens.

Don't think you're doing your family a favor by using these products. Air fresheners have been linked to sick children and depression

According to Wikipedia:

The NRDC called for more rigorous supervision of the manufacturers and their products, which are widely assumed to be safe:

"The study assessed scented sprays, gels, and plug-in air fresheners. Independent lab testing confirmed the presence of phthalates, or hormone-disrupting chemicals that may pose a particular health risk to babies and young children, in 12 of the 14 products—including those marked 'all natural.' None of the products had these chemicals listed on their labels."

On September 19, 2007, the NRDC, along with the Sierra Club, Alliance for Healthy Homes, and the National Center for Healthy Housing filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to report the findings.[2]

Exposure to volatile organic compounds through frequent use of air fresheners and other aerosols in the home was found to correlate with increased earaches and diarrhea in infants, and with increased depression in their mothers in a large study[3] reported by the University of Bristol in the UK in 2003.

In 2008, Anne Steinemann of the University of Washington published a study of top-selling air fresheners and laundry products.[4] She found that all products tested gave off chemicals regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, including carcinogens with no safe exposure level, but none of these chemicals were listed on any of the product labels or Material Safety Data Sheets.

Chemicals included acetone, the active ingredient in paint thinner and nail-polish remover; chloromethane, a neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant; and acetaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, both carcinogens. A plug-in air freshener contained more than 20 different volatile organic compounds, with more than one-third classified as toxic or hazardous under federal laws. Even air fresheners called "organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens.

In 2009, Stanley M. Caress of the University of West Georgia and Anne C. Steinemann of the University of Washington published results from two national epidemiological studies of health effects from exposure to air fresheners. They found that nearly 20 percent of the general population and 34 percent of asthmatics report headaches, breathing difficulties, or other health problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers.[5]

My Product Alert States:

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) tested 14 different brands of common household air fresheners and found that 12 contained the hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates (pronounced thal-ates), chemicals that can cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems.

None of the products tested had these chemicals listed on their labels. "Manufacturers are getting away with marketing products as 'natural' when they're not, and that's because no one is stopping them," said Mae Wu, an attorney in NRDC's health program. "Our research suggests this could be a widespread problem in a booming industry that – so far – has been allowed to do what it wants."

Most air fresheners don't really freshen anything – they just mask the bad odors in a room. But only to dulled noses. Good noses can smell both the rancid odors in a room and the fake fragrances of the 'fresheners' which in combination create quite a rotten smell indeed.

If candles, aerosol sprays, potpourri, gels, wicks, mechanical and heat release products are this toxic, is there anything safe that you CAN use?

Yes, there is.

Diffusing 100% Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils is not only a safe way to freshen and purify the air in your home, it's also health-enhancing. Many air freshener manufacturers label their products as "natural" or containing "essential oils" with some even boldly claiming their essential oils are pure, when they are no more than chemical imitations. Chemically manufactured essential oils are nothing more than toxins. Only 100% Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils are truly pure and beneficial.

Only 100% Therapeutic Grade™ essential oils:

1. Improve immune health and create a feeling of balance and well-being.


2. Reduce bacteria, fungus, and mold.


3. Kill airborn bacteria.


4. Promote relaxation, relieve tension, clear the mind and improve concentration, alertness and mental clarity.


5. Work as natural chelators, bonding to metallics and chemicals and ferrying them out of the body.

For more info read, "Diffusing Essential Oils"

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References

1. http://science.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/air-freshener How Products Are Made: Air Freshener
2. Air Fresheners Unregulated, Potentially Dangerous, Group Says
3. "Symptoms of mothers and infants related to total volatile organic compounds in household products" Arch Environ Health. 2003 Oct;58(10):633-41; PMID 15562635; "Air fresheners can make mothers and babies ill" University of Bristol press release issued 19 October 2004
4. Steinemann, A.C. "Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients." Environ Impact Assess Rev 2009;29(1): 32-38.
5. Caress, S.M., and Steinemann, A.C. "National prevalence of fragrance sensitivity." J Environ Health 2009;71(7):46-50.