Toxic chemicals found in common scented laundry products, air fresheners

Posted on Jul 27, 2008 by Susie Collins in Blog, Research, Susie Collins

barfSurprise, surprise.

A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those chemicals was listed on the product labels.

“I first got interested in this topic because people were telling me that the air fresheners in public restrooms and the scent from laundry products vented outdoors were making them sick,” said Anne Steinemann, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering and of public affairs. “And I wanted to know, ‘What’s in these products that is causing these effects?’”

She analyzed the products to discover the chemicals’ identity.

“I was surprised by both the number and the potential toxicity of the chemicals that were found,” Steinemann said. Chemicals included acetone, the active ingredient in paint thinner and nail-polish remover; limonene, a molecule with a citrus scent; and acetaldehyde, chloromethane and 1,4-dioxane.

“Nearly 100 volatile organic compounds were emitted from these six products, and none were listed on any product label. Plus, five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic ‘hazardous air pollutants,’ which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level,” Steinemann said.

Link

And another article here on WebMD.

Snitched from Miss Molly, who’s always discovering new things that’ll kill you.

Photo by elmada at flickr.

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3 Responses to “Toxic chemicals found in common scented laundry products, air fresheners”

  1. marguerite manteau-rao

    02. Aug, 2008

    Susie, thanks for stopping by La Marguerite and for the great info on Hawaii mandating solar for all new homes by 2010.

    Please keep up your important work here on Canary Report. My problem is there is so much we need to know, and simply do not have the time to research. In the end, it comes down to having better laws and standards. That will only happen if citizens, and regulators are well informed.

    Reply to this comment

  2. Jeanne

    03. Jun, 2009

    Susie,

    Classic. I haven’t been able to walk down the detergent aisle in years. It makes me far too sick. Good thing my dear hubby buys the detergent (one I can use without reacting).

    Jeanne

    Reply to this comment

  3. Susie Collins

    03. Jun, 2009

    Hi Jeanne, Anne Steinemann has done some great work showing that the products we say are toxic are indeed toxic. And most detergents are made to bind to the fabrics! It’s frightening to think that products sold to “clean” our clothes are instead turning them into toxic materials that people wear right on their skin all day every day. There outta be a law!

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