Winter Maladies: Natural Approaches
June Russell's Health Facts
Chemical Sensitivities and Air Fresheners
The advertisements strive to make us feel that we need “air fresheners” in our homes, in the bathroom, kitchen and all around the house. They come in aerosol sprays or the wick types that send out fumes constantly. These products do not do anything to improve the quality of the air, in fact, they add a number of pollutants, some designed to deaden your sense of smell, others adding various kinds of toxic perfume to drown out whatever smells would offend. A prominent constituent of many of these products is formaldehyde (which EPA says is a carcinogen), and sometimes even pesticides are included. "Clean" does not have to have a "scent." Alternatives? Open windows and air the room/house or simmer lemons in water for a non-toxic fragrance.
(“Air Fresheners or Air Poisoners?” - YOU decide! Multiple Chemical Sensitivity website, www.ourlittleplace.com - March 2002)
The name "air fresheners" imply that they improve the quality of the indoor air and make it healthier to breathe. However, the typical air freshener releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air and adds to the chemical mix of indoor air pollution.
(“Air Freshener Emissions Cause Toxic Health Effects,” Our Toxic Times, a publication of the Chemical Injury Information Network, July 1998).
Don’t use air fresheners, scented candles, potpourri, incense and the like. They mask rather than remove odors. Air fresheners actually pollute indoor air with such potential carcinogens as paradichlorobenzene and limonene; scented candles produce polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, like those produced by charbroiling).
Avoid mothballs. These also produce paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene fumes. Air clothing that has been dry-cleaned outside if possible for 72 hours. Vent bathrooms and don’t use “air fresheners” and deodorizers. Use hair sprays, nail polish, polish removers, and spray perfumes sparingly and in well ventilated areas.
(“Tips for better indoor air,” UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, Feb., 1999)
Fabric Softeners
In a 1991 study, chloroform was found in tests of fabric softeners.
(“The Health Risks of Twenty Most Common Chemicals Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products,” www.herc.org - Health and Environmental Resource Center, 2002)
Fabric softeners contain some of the most toxic chemicals (like chloroform, benzyl acetate and pentane) that are known to cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain, and nerves. These chemicals are even more dangerous when heated in a clothes dryer. The toxic fumes then go into the neighborhood air and everyone for blocks around is forced to breathe them in. Babies, children, older people, and people who are already sick are especially hurt by these chemicals, and the damage can be permanent, causing lifelong illness. Most fabric softeners have fragrance added to them, which makes them even more toxic. To soften fabrics and reduce static cling, add a cup or more of plain baking soda to each wash.
(“What’s Wrong With Fabric Softeners,” Neighborhood Health Notice! www.ourlittleplace.com - April 2002)
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