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. 

According to the EPA, the same agency that denied the Section 21 Petition, most store bought air fresheners can have formaldehyde, petrochemicals, pthalates, p-dichlorobenzene, organic gases, terpenes, and aerosol pollutants in them.  In 2006, the University of California at Berkeley found that ethylene-based glycol ethers are also in air fresheners.  The EPA classified ethylene-based glycol ethers as hazardous air pollutants.  The US National Institute of Health Sciences found that chemicals in air fresheners can decrease lung capacity and may increase respiratory diseases. The EPA has not advised against buying air fresheners because the studies simulated use higher levels of indoor ozone and air freshener consumption than normal homes. For a full look at the EPA Indoor Air Quality Report on the following chemicals and more click here:  Indoor Air Quality.

            Petrochemicals: chemicals made from oil, natural gas or other fossil fuels that are proven to pollute the environment.

            P-dichlorobenzene: causes eye and upper respiratory tract irritation, skin irritation, headaches, nausea, blood disorders, and liver and kidney damage with chronic exposure according to the US Department of Labor. 

           Pthalates: chemicals that can lower sperm count in men and lead to genital changes in male infants. For more on pthalates, watch this short video: Pthalates 

           Terpenes: found in citrus oils, terpenes react with the ozone to form formaldehyde.

           Formaldehyde: Cited by the EPA as a colorless, pungent-smelling gas that can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, coughing, fatigue, wheezing, skin rash, allergic reactions, and difficulty breathing.  In higher concentrations, formaldehyde can trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma.  It can also cause cancer in animals and possibly humans.  Formaldehyde can create other organic gases, which are also harmful.

           Organic Gases: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emitted as gases.  VOCs are in much higher concentration inside than outside homes.  Elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after they appear.  VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and the central nervous system, and cancer in animals and humans.  Key signs of exposure are conjunctival irritation, nose and throat discomfort, headaches, allergic skin reactions, dyspnea, nausea, fatigue, emesis, epistaxis, and dizziness.  The extent and nature of health effects depends on the level of exposure, time exposed, and toxicity of the organic.  No standards have been set for VOCs in non-industrial settings, but the OSHA regulates formaldehyde (also a VOC) as a carcinoged. 

In order to help decrease the amount of harmful chemicals and pollutants in your home, try some of the the alternative air fresheners suggested in my Alternatives post.