Air Freshener Ingredients
Posted by smculp on November 8, 2008
The US Department of Health and Human Services Household Products Database cites that the only ingredients in Febreze Air Effects are fragrance, odor eliminator derived from corn, ethanol/SD Alcohol 40, nitrogen, water, and quality control agents. In Glade Aerosol, there is only water and hydrocarbon propellant. Look on the labels and this is all you will find. So how can these products be harmful?
Last year, the National Resources Defense Council, the National Center for Healthy Housing, the Sierra Club, and the Alliance for Healthy Homes all petitioned the EPA to crack down on air fresheners in a TSCA Section 21 Petition. They wanted the EPA to increase regulations due to the harmful chemicals linked to cancer in animals, developmental problems with babies, and breathing problems. They also wanted the government to require manufacturers to conduct safety tests and give the results to regulators. In particular, the agencies wanted the manufacturers to list all the products’ ingredients on labels. Three Walgreen brand air fresheners were pulled off shelves nationwide as a result of this petition. However, the EPA denied the petition, citing that the TSCA Section 21 doesn’t apply to the petitioners’ request for a call-in under TSCA section 8 ( c ). For more on the petition, click here: SFGate.
