The Scent of Danger
Words by Katherine C. Eustaquio
Published in Action & Fitness Magazine April 2010 issue
If airborne toxic substances are visible, you’d probably hold your breathe in—no, definitely not on the streets in the middle of a busy afternoon—but in hotel lobbies, air-conditioned offices, sweet-smelling spas, highly deodorized comfort rooms, cabs, and just about anywhere you see an air freshener being sprayed or jammed in front of the air louvers, or where scented candles are being lit.
Yes, you read that right. Those scented air fresheners that round-the-clock, above-the-line advertisements make us believe that we need one to make our homes “clean” and smelling “fresh” all day long do not actually “purify” the air. And those scented candles that claim to be designed for aromatherapy sessions do not really give you a therapy to remember. Rather, they give you a trauma to ponder.
The Low Down on Air Fresheners
Air fresheners, whether sprayed, plugged in, or hanged, do not “clean” the air. Instead, they coat your nasal passages with a synthetic oil film (i.e. methoxychlor—a chemical used in pesticides) to add an artificial fragrance to cover up the bad smell; while others contain a chemical substance that dulls the nerves that react to the offensive odor.
Here are some of the proven harmful substances that are present in air fresheners:
Allergens – causes allergic reactions
Potential carcinogens:
• Acetaldehyde
• Styrene
• Paradichchlorobenzene
• Phenol
• Formaldehyde
• Benzene
Chlorbenzene – used in pesticides
Glycol – used in automobile parts
Phthalates – added to plastics for flexibility purposes
Now, there are many more substances found in your daily air fresheners that post risk to your family’s health. The sad reality is that most air conditioning products have yet to be tested for safe use in terms of health risks, before being released and marketed. Studies have shown that when these harmful substances are released and confined in an enclosed space (i.e. your homes, offices, and bathrooms), they can create an intense accumulation of toxins in one area.
What about scented candles?
If you think scented candles are therapeutic, think again, because your aromatherapy might lead to a traumatic therapy. Even those candles that claim to benefit the health because of their floral fragrances can have a negative effect on your health. Studies have proven that these “calming” candles have little to do with true aromatherapy, which means “treatment using scents.”
Most of these candles are made of the chemically derived paraffin wax mixed with artificial fragrance oils that give them their scent. When burnt, they release harmful chemicals like toluene and benzene. And the most bothersome of all is that they come with metal wicks at the bottom that are made of lead or zinc that can be inhaled 100% through the black soot.
The Harmful Effects
According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the US, air fresheners contain the harmful ingredient known as 1, 4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB), a known volatile organic compound (VOC) that damages your lungs. Another study proved that 1,4-DCB reduces lung function and eventually increases the risk of stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease.
In 2006, the University of Colorado and Baylor College of Medicine in the US made a study and concluded that the chemicals found in air fresheners affect the enzymes that are responsible for the normal death of cells, leading to the growth of malignant cells. Another 2007 report made by the Natural Resources Defense Council in the US also said that these toxins may affect a person’s reproductive development.
In the UK, a clinical study claimed that the 30% increase in infant diarrhea was related in the use of aerosol (i.e. hairspray, nail polish). Moreover, research also found that chemicals used in mothballs, cleaning products, toilet bowl cleaners, floor adhesives, and paint are harmful to the lungs.
So take it easy. Don’t grab your spray-form air fresheners the next time your nose twitch because of a fishy smell somewhere in your home. Instead of masking the bad odor, why not air out your kitchen, clean up the mess, or alternative cleaning products. Little do you know, you might be spraying on more toxins that can bother not just your sense of smell, but your health as well.
Published in Action & Fitness Magazine April 2010 issue
If airborne toxic substances are visible, you’d probably hold your breathe in—no, definitely not on the streets in the middle of a busy afternoon—but in hotel lobbies, air-conditioned offices, sweet-smelling spas, highly deodorized comfort rooms, cabs, and just about anywhere you see an air freshener being sprayed or jammed in front of the air louvers, or where scented candles are being lit.
Yes, you read that right. Those scented air fresheners that round-the-clock, above-the-line advertisements make us believe that we need one to make our homes “clean” and smelling “fresh” all day long do not actually “purify” the air. And those scented candles that claim to be designed for aromatherapy sessions do not really give you a therapy to remember. Rather, they give you a trauma to ponder.
The Low Down on Air Fresheners
Air fresheners, whether sprayed, plugged in, or hanged, do not “clean” the air. Instead, they coat your nasal passages with a synthetic oil film (i.e. methoxychlor—a chemical used in pesticides) to add an artificial fragrance to cover up the bad smell; while others contain a chemical substance that dulls the nerves that react to the offensive odor.
Here are some of the proven harmful substances that are present in air fresheners:
Allergens – causes allergic reactions
Potential carcinogens:
• Acetaldehyde
• Styrene
• Paradichchlorobenzene
• Phenol
• Formaldehyde
• Benzene
Chlorbenzene – used in pesticides
Glycol – used in automobile parts
Phthalates – added to plastics for flexibility purposes
Now, there are many more substances found in your daily air fresheners that post risk to your family’s health. The sad reality is that most air conditioning products have yet to be tested for safe use in terms of health risks, before being released and marketed. Studies have shown that when these harmful substances are released and confined in an enclosed space (i.e. your homes, offices, and bathrooms), they can create an intense accumulation of toxins in one area.
What about scented candles?
If you think scented candles are therapeutic, think again, because your aromatherapy might lead to a traumatic therapy. Even those candles that claim to benefit the health because of their floral fragrances can have a negative effect on your health. Studies have proven that these “calming” candles have little to do with true aromatherapy, which means “treatment using scents.”
Most of these candles are made of the chemically derived paraffin wax mixed with artificial fragrance oils that give them their scent. When burnt, they release harmful chemicals like toluene and benzene. And the most bothersome of all is that they come with metal wicks at the bottom that are made of lead or zinc that can be inhaled 100% through the black soot.
The Harmful Effects
According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the US, air fresheners contain the harmful ingredient known as 1, 4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB), a known volatile organic compound (VOC) that damages your lungs. Another study proved that 1,4-DCB reduces lung function and eventually increases the risk of stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease.
In 2006, the University of Colorado and Baylor College of Medicine in the US made a study and concluded that the chemicals found in air fresheners affect the enzymes that are responsible for the normal death of cells, leading to the growth of malignant cells. Another 2007 report made by the Natural Resources Defense Council in the US also said that these toxins may affect a person’s reproductive development.
In the UK, a clinical study claimed that the 30% increase in infant diarrhea was related in the use of aerosol (i.e. hairspray, nail polish). Moreover, research also found that chemicals used in mothballs, cleaning products, toilet bowl cleaners, floor adhesives, and paint are harmful to the lungs.
So take it easy. Don’t grab your spray-form air fresheners the next time your nose twitch because of a fishy smell somewhere in your home. Instead of masking the bad odor, why not air out your kitchen, clean up the mess, or alternative cleaning products. Little do you know, you might be spraying on more toxins that can bother not just your sense of smell, but your health as well.
