To those of you out there who use Air Fresheners to get rid of the nasty fun in the air... read this (and follow the links). With any luck, this information will get you to change your choices (if not for yourself, for the OTHER people who come into your air space). ***** AIR FRESHENERS***** *Anderson R C, Anderson J H. Toxic Effects of Air Freshener Emissions. Archives of Environmental Health 52(6): 433-441 (1997). Reported in Our Toxic Times July 1998 by Cindy Duehring. Air fresheners do much the opposite by releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and adding to the indoor air pollution. This study used the ASTM-E-981 and FOB to assess sensory, pulmonary and neurological function changes in mice. Used a brand often complained of. One hour exposure to common air freshener levels caused increases in sensory and pulmonary irritation, airflow velocity decreases (bronchoconstriction, asthma-like), and behavioral abnormalities consistent with neurological impairment. ------------------ SOME MICE DIED The adverse effects were not found in the sham exposure (control) mice. None of the mice in the control group died. After air freshener fumes were introduced, the respiratory rate changed and dropped as much as 50% within 10 minutes. It returned rapidly towards baseline when exposure ceased and pure zero grade air was reintroduced. Other tests involved air from a ‘room with a small air quality problem’, and a small amount of fresh latex paint. In both tests they greatly increased the total VOCs. The neurotoxicity was increased to !severe! levels in the ‘room’ test which would approximate exposure in a small kitchen. The mouse to human applicability for sensory and pulmonary irritation is well-established. Analysis of the VOCs in the test air found toluene, limonene (can cause symptoms affecting the eye, skin, stomach, lung, and brain including dizziness, inco-ordination, convulsions, and death), pinene, sabinene, phellandrene, methoxybenzaldehyde, dihydrobenzofuran, terpinolene, ocimene, terpinene, butanoic acid, thujene, and methyl formamide. The MSDS lists its health hazards: 2 on a scale of 1-4 (4 worst), and recommends a NIOSH approved respirator if the vapor concentration is high due to heat. High vapor may cause headache, nervousness, dizziness, tremors, fatigue, nausea, narcosis. Use of air fresheners in confined spaces like elevators could well give possible high vapor concentrations. Note: Formaldehyde and phenol are also components of air fresheners - most of which interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film or by releasing a deadening nerve agent. (Richard Alexander, Top 10 Hazardous Household Chemicals, < wwwconsumerlawpage/article/household-chemicals.shtml >
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:34:26 +0000
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