Are Scented Products Just Household Toxic Chemicals?

They're supposed to make things smell better... outdoor fresh and clean... yet new research finds that scented products (air fresheners, scented candles, laundry detergents, skincare and hair products) give off all kinds of chemicals with those pleasing smells, including a few that are considered toxic. What's worse, the work finds that these chemicals aren't even listed on the labels.

There's no escaping products with fragrances... they're everywhere. Still little is known about these items... they are complex combinations involving hundreds of ingredients after all, and federal law protects fragrances, manufacturers aren't required to disclose ingredients, leaving the consumer in the dark about exactly what they are breathing in with all that lovely scent.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

The research into just what we're inhaling used some fancy chemical detective work to examine 25 commonly used, best selling products that have scent.

The team placed a sample of each product in a closed glass container at room temperature and then analyzed the surrounding air for any volatile organic compounds. They found chemical concentrations ranging from 100 micrograms per cubic meter to more than 1.6 million micrograms per cubic meter.

Each product tested emitted an average of 17 chemicals. Of the 133 volatile organic compounds detected in the study, almost one quarter are classified as hazardous or toxic under at least one federal law. Yikes.

The most common emissions included limonene, a chemical that has a citrus scent; alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, chemicals that have a pine scent; ethanol; and acetone, the solvent in nail polish remover.

At least a third of the products tested emitted at least one chemical considered a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All products emitted at least one chemical classified as toxic or hazardous. Eleven products emitted at least one probable carcinogen including acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde and methylene chloride.

But wait... what about the products that claim to be "green" or "natural"?

About half of the products analyzed made some claim to being green, organic or natural, but the "green" products sent out just as many dangerous chemicals as any of the other products.

Only one of the 133 chemicals given off by the products actually appeared on a product label (ethanol), and only two of the chemicals were disclosed elsewhere.

The products included solid air fresheners, freshening sprays and oils, laundry detergent, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, and personal care items like soaps, hand wash, lotions, deodorant and shampoo.

Cleaning products included disinfectants, all purpose sprays and dishwashing liquid.

Most likely the products you use are among those tested as the team chose widely used brands, with more than half the products being the top seller in its category.

The team is not disclosing the brands used in an effort to make a point. Buying Brand B over Brand A isn't going to make a difference. Potentially hazardous chemicals were given off by all the fragranced products tested.

A survey published last year found that almost 20% of the population report adverse health effects from air fresheners, about 10% complained of adverse effects from laundry products. Asthmatics reports of effects are roughly twice as common.

If you're worried about taking in potentially hazardous chemicals from the products you buy, it's a good idea to avoid heavily scented items. Clean with vinegar and baking soda, open windows for fresh air, and opt for products without scents whenever possible.

On the legal front, the Household Product Labeling Act currently under review by the U.S. Senate calls for manufacturers to list ingredients in these scented products, including fragrance mixtures. Contact your senator and make your views known.

Are Scented Products Just Household Toxic Chemicals?

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS