Air fresheners poison the air with pthalates

A clean house needs a fragrant scent and a liberal spray of air freshener, according to all the advertisements. Spring rain. Fresh linen. Formaldehyde. Far from leaving you with a fresh feeling, the ingredients in air fresheners can cause respiratory problems, birth defects, depression and infertility. Yet we find them everywhere, from homes to cars to hotel rooms.

The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that 75 percent of American homes use some form of air freshener. While industry representatives state that their products pose no risk, a study conducted by the NRDC in 2007 found that a dozen common air fresheners contained phthalates. Pthalates are chemicals used to soften plastic and bind fragrances, and are known to cause hormonal and reproductive problems. The NRDC study looked at aerosol sprays, solids and liquids that continuously emit a scent. None of the air fresheners listed phthalates among their ingredients, but even products marked "all natural" and "unscented" tested positive for the chemical.

In response, Walgreens vowed to conduct independent testing and use only pthalate-free air fresheners. Last year SC Johnson announced that it would provide ingredient information on all of its home cleaning products and phase out all pthalates by 2012. Air freshener manufacturers are currently not required to list the ingredients in their products. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes in its "Indoor Guide to Air Quality" that air fresheners release formaldehyde, petrochemicals and aerosol pollutants "more or less continuously." In spite of this, neither the EPA nor the Consumer Product Safety Commission have called for a ban on air fresheners or for stricter regulation.

The NRDC study didn't note the size of the room, the distance from the product or the amount of time a person stayed in the room, all of which affect toxicity, but other studies make it clear that phalates in any amount should be avoided. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the use of phthalates or require manufacturers to list them on product labels, but the states of California and Washington have banned the sale of children's toys containing phthalates because of their link to hormonal disruptions, including lower sperm production and genital abnormalities. In 2004, the European Union banned the chemical in both children's toys and cosmetics.

A study from the University of Bristol called “Children of the ’90s” has been tracking the health and development of 14,000 children, and it includes the effects of air freshener exposure among its findings. According to the study, 32 percent more infants suffered diarrhea in homes that used air fresheners every day in comparison to homes that used air fresheners once a week or less. The study also found that women who lived in homes where air fresheners were used daily were 26 percent more likely to be depressed.

Besides their negative effect on health, air fresheners don't do the environment any favors with their plastic packaging and damaging fumes. They also merely mask unpleasant odors - they don't get to the root of the problem. Simply opening the windows can solve many odor problems. If you can't open a window, there are a few easy ways to cover the scent. Baking soda or borax will clean surfaces, deodorize garbage cans and even soften your water. You can sprinkle them wherever needed. You could also grind a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal, place a bowl of dried herbs or fresh coffee grounds on the counter or simmer some water and cinnamon or other spices on the stove. The best way to remove the scent is to remove its source. You may just need to take out the trash or clean the litter box more often.