The Hidden Hazzards

of Commercial Brand Air Fresheners  

Many people use air fresheners in their home, car, or workplace on a daily basis. Unfortunately the sweet smell can cause serious health risks. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the high and often unmentioned phthalate content found in most manufactured air fresheners is dangerous to human health, especially to children and pregnant women. Other disconcerting ingredients commonly found in air fresheners include formaldehyde and phenol.

Formaldehyde is a highly toxic carcinogen, as well as a neurotoxicant and immunotoxicant. It is also in the top 10 percent of hazardous chemicals for humans. Low levels of exposure cause eye irritation, and burning in the nose, throat, and skin. Additional symptoms include nausea, headaches, memory loss, breathing problems, and menstrual disorders. Higher levels of exposure have been linked to cancer in the nose and throat. Internal consumption of formaldehyde can cause coma, convulsions, severe vomiting, stupor, and death. Direct eye contact with formaldehyde can cause blindness.

Xylene is a neurotoxin that can cause liver and kidney damage; it also poses health risks to unborn children. Long-term exposure can cause memory loss. Inhaled xylene causes symptoms like headache, dizziness, and vomiting. High intakes of xylene can also cause a loss of consciousness, pulmonary edema, and death. Pockets of fluid or air in the cornea area of the eye have also occurred.

Phenol - According to the National Institutes of Health, phenol is toxic and hypersensitive individuals can die or suffer from very serious effects from minimal exposure. Skin contact with phenol can cause severe swelling, burning, peeling, and hives. This toxin is absorbed quickly and can additionally cause convulsions, circulatory collapse, delirium, and coma. Death and high toxicity levels often correlate directly with central nervous system depression, and poisoning of the heart, liver, eyes, lungs and kidneys. Phenol has also caused problems with animal fetuses and reproduction. The toxin additionally causes changes in the liver's enzymes that regulate the absorption of various medications introduced into the body.

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