Palscience

A Washington University scientist Steinemann reported in a study, almost six laundry products and air fresheners emit toxic chemicals. Steinemann didn’t list the name of the products for the public yet for more research. All six products that were tested gave at least one toxic and hazardous chemical that has some health effects. None of these products were listed in the product labels, and they are considered dangerous or hazard under the federal law.

“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?’

After the study, she analyzed the products to figure out what are the chemicals identities. “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.

Steinemann advice people when they buy products with Fragrance to be careful, because they don’t know what exactly contains in them. She also said, buy products that are fragrance-free versions for safer environment. There are no reports yet of what kind of health effects are related to these toxic chemicals, but many people reported in a national survey was published also by Steinemann adverse health effects from air fresheners, and about 10 percent complained of adverse effects from laundry products.