Bad smells smell bad – Air fresheners may mutate your nethers
Posted by bobodod on 24 March, 2008
From the National Resources Defense Council:
Common Air Fresheners Contain Chemicals That May Affect Human Reproductive Development, September 19, 2007
An analysis of more than a dozen common household air fresheners found that most contain chemicals that may affect hormones and reproductive development, particularly in babies, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said today. The federal government does not currently test air fresheners for safety or require manufacturers to meet any specific safety standards. The study offers both consumers and officials new information on the risks certain air fresheners pose.
“More than anything, our research highlights cracks in our safety system,” said Dr. Gina Solomon, NRDC senior scientist.
“Consumers have a right to know what is put into air fresheners and other everyday products they bring into their homes,” Solomon added. “There are too many products on the shelves that we assume are safe, but have never even been tested. The government should be keeping a watchful eye on these household items and the manufacturers who produce them.”
…etc.
From the National Institutes of Health:
Chemical in Many Air Fresheners May Reduce Lung Function, 27 July, 2006
New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, may be harmful to the lungs. Human population studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, found that exposure to a volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function.
“Even a small reduction in lung function may indicate some harm to the lungs,” said NIEHS researcher Stephanie London, M.D., lead investigator on the study. “The best way to protect yourself, especially children who may have asthma or other respiratory illnesses, is to reduce the use of products and materials that contain these compounds.”
…etc.
(Learn more about these issues at the Organic Consumers Association and the National Resources Defense Council.)
