To ensure that you are not breathing in heavy toxins, replace your commercial air fresheners with essential oils. (Cat Rooney/The Epoch Times)
Household and environmental pollutants, along with their resultant lung disorders, seem to worsen every year. Even the front page of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Indoor Air Quality” website lists the toll that asthma is taking on our population. The EPA’s Indoor Environments Division is responsible for addressing sources of “indoor air pollution.”
The EPA’s Web site states, “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.” The site confirms that studies performed at the National Institute of Health’s Environmental Health Science department found that “exposure to a volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4-DCB, may cause modest reductions in lung function.” The lead investigating doctor on the study concluded, “even a small reduction in lung function may indicate some harm to the lungs,” and that, “the best way to protect yourself … is to reduce the use of products and materials that contain these compounds.”
The EPA states that simply “breathing contaminated air” exposes people to toxic air pollutants.
According to the EPA’s Web site, on September 20, 2007, the Sierra Club, the National Center for Healthy Housing, the Alliance for Healthy Homes, and the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the EPA under the ‘Toxic Substances Control Act’ to require submittal of health and safety studies related to air fresheners, including lab results of ingredients and health effects from respiratory exposures, and to adopt a rule to require that air fresheners be labeled to identify all of their ingredients. The EPA denied the requests, stating “the petition does not set forth sufficient facts to support the petitioners’ assertion.”
A report in Nature reveals that harmful formaldehyde-generating smog can form inside your home due to the use of air-fresheners. This “probable carcinogen” not only leads to cancer, but is believed “responsible for respiratory problems” as well.
Another report, “Air Fresheners Linked to Lung Damage,” posted on WebMD Health News states that 1,4-DCB, “most often used in room deodorizers,” can be found in the blood of 96 percent of Americans. Besides being especially problematic for those with asthma, the report says “1,4-DCB is also a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and death from any cause.”
Dr. Joseph Mercola states on his Web site, Mercola.com , that artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, or other synthetic fragrances are emitting 1,4-DCB and other pollutant chemicals. He recommends only using therapeutic essential oils, which have been around for thousands of years and which have natural anti-bacterial qualities.
The side effects of VOCs, like headaches, sore throat, nausea, and drowsiness, are so well known that Japanese automakers became the first to set an industry-wide goal of reducing these harmful chemicals in their cars. Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco told USA Today, “The industry in Japan as a whole has recognized the need for this and is coordinating efforts.” That “new car smell” leaches from a new car’s toxic mix of “glues, paints, vinyls, and plastics,” says USA Today. Since aerosol air fresheners called “New Car Smell,” can be purchased by those who want to “renew that showroom scent,” as one air freshener advertisement states, it seems you can now take that new car smell wherever you go.
The Toyota spokesman told USA Today, “Cutting down on the things that lead to these smells is only something that can be better for you.”
The EPA sets no guidelines for VOCs in non-industrial settings. This means that VOCs are regulated in some work settings, but not at home.
“The good news is indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about,” states the EPA Web site. Apparently the burden falls to the consumer in this case.
Even though the 2007 petition was declined, the Sierra Club has continued talks with the air freshener industry. They have seen success now that the industry has agreed to post ingredients, though formal regulation or an official ban of these toxic chemicals is unlikely to be seen for a long time.
The only sure way to have them removed from the market is for consumers to stop purchasing products that contain the harmful ingredients.
Tom Neltner, primary author of the EPA air freshener petition, and co-chair of the Sierra Club’s Toxic Committee, is pleasantly surprised that they have seen this much progress, saying “now the industry is moving forward.” Educated consumers can now visit www.sierraclub.org/toxics to check for hazardous ingredients in their air fresheners. In addition, the pressure that organizations like the Sierra Club put on the air freshener industry will ultimately encourage the use of safer ingredients in their products.
Better slow than not at all.
James and Kim are certified nutrition and lifestyle coaches who assist pregnant moms and new parents. They can be contacted at FitForBirth@gmail.com or through their Web sites GetFitForBirth.com and YourSuperBaby.com
