Yet more news from the other side of the pond regarding the detection of potentially harmful chemicals in everyday products. This time it's air fresheners and it seems that people's obsession with a home that smells like a country meadow could cause serious health problems. The National Resources Defence Centre (NRDC) tested 14 commonly used air fresheners and found phthalates - a chemical which disrupts hormones - in 12 of the products, including some which were branded as 'all natural' and 'unscented'. None of them listed the harmful chemical on the ingredients list.
[via The Alternative Consumer]
Phthatlates are known to disrupt hormone and testosterone levels and are a particular threat to unborn babies and children. California confirms that five types of phthatlates (including one found in the air fresheners) are "known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm." Despite this the chemical is commonly found in many consumer products - in children's toys, cosmetics and perfumes. Walgreen's Scented Bouquet topped the charts with 7300 parts per million of the phthalate DEP. NRDC admit that more tests need to be carried out to determine the full extent of the harm these chemicals cause when used in air fresheners, but they say consumers should be aware of the potential dangers to themselves and their families.
