Toxic Air Fresheners
Author: --
Date: 08/22/11
Source: http://www.nrdc.org/living/healthreports/hidden-hazards-air-fresheners.asp
Date: 08/22/11
Source: http://www.nrdc.org/living/healthreports/hidden-hazards-air-fresheners.asp
The article ''toxic air fresheners'' talks about the toxic chemicals being detected by a test conducted by NRDC on 14 air fresheners and it was found that 12 contained phthalates, chemicals that can cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems.
In addition to phthalates, air fresheners may contain allergens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde. three of the detected fresheners had levels of 360ppm, 1,100 ppm and 7,300ppm of phthalates which has a very high toxicity. Pregnant women and children should avoid products that contain phthalates, but because there are no labeling requirements it is impossible for consumers to know which one is which. But on the other hand congressional ban of several phthalates in child-care products and children's toys resulted in their removal from shelves as of February 2009. NRDC and other groups are petitioning the U.S. consumer products safety commission to ban hazardous phthalates in consumer products and require that manufacturers provide ingredient information on their labels.
I found the article interesting because air fresheners are one of the products that are used indoor and to learn that they contain deadly amount of chemicals called phthalates. If especially pregnant women and children are using the products they are more likely to be affected than any normal person. So knowing that all of us might as well be careful of what we use.
Now that we all know there are harmful products we use, but there is no way to identify them unless they are stated on the ingredients. And companies doesn't have a must of doing that because of their profit. There are other choices available that won't lead our health to be at stake. For example we can freshen up our home naturally by opining shades and windows to bring in air and sunlight or fans. Or we can petition EPA and Consumer Product safety commissions to do more comprehensive testing and to ban phthalates in our products as the article states
I found the article interesting because air fresheners are one of the products that are used indoor and to learn that they contain deadly amount of chemicals called phthalates. If especially pregnant women and children are using the products they are more likely to be affected than any normal person. So knowing that all of us might as well be careful of what we use.
Now that we all know there are harmful products we use, but there is no way to identify them unless they are stated on the ingredients. And companies doesn't have a must of doing that because of their profit. There are other choices available that won't lead our health to be at stake. For example we can freshen up our home naturally by opining shades and windows to bring in air and sunlight or fans. Or we can petition EPA and Consumer Product safety commissions to do more comprehensive testing and to ban phthalates in our products as the article states