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Science of smell

Some air fresheners contain chemicals associated with birth defects and diseases.

By IVAN PENN, The Consumer's Edge
Published October 6, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Janel Schroeder-Norton | Times] Among the worst offenders was Ozium Glycol-ized Air Sanitizer. The test found 360 parts per million of di-ethyl phthalate in Ozium, hundreds and sometimes thousands of times greater than the other products.

A lesson from Big Mama's book of wisdom: Taking out the trash and cleaning the bedroom and bathroom are good for your health. Hiding unseemly odors with air freshener sometimes can hurt you.

Unfortunately, nobody listens to Big Mama until science proves her right. But often - and usually too late - we end up shaking our heads, wondering why we didn't listen to her in the first place.

Enter science on the issue of air fresheners.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit environmental group in New York, recently tested 14 air fresheners for chemicals, called phthalates (pronounced thal-ates).

Phthalates can be found in lubricants, cosmetics, perfumes and children's toys.

These chemicals have been associated with birth defects, reproductive problems and increased risks of asthma and cancer. They are known to interfere with the production of the male hormone testosterone.

(Finally, the way to get a man to take out the trash: threaten to spray air freshener and endanger his testosterone levels).

Anyway, the NRDC test found phthalates in 12 of the 14 air fresheners it tested.

The worst offenders were Walgreens' Air Freshener Spray and Scented Bouquet Air Freshener and Ozium Glycol-ized Air Sanitizer. The test found 1,100 and 7,300 parts per million of di-ethyl phthalate in the Walgreens' products and 360 parts per million in Ozium - hundreds and sometimes thousands of times greater than the other products.

Most were at the "moderate" level, led by Oust Air Sanitizer Spray, which had 5.7 parts per million of di-ethyl phthalate.

The Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher and the Renuzit Subtle Effects had none.

The test is significant because manufacturers of air fresheners, as with many household products, are not required by federal law to list all of the ingredients.

"The law doesn't even require the companies to let the government know what's in these products," said Dr. Gina Solomon, who conducted the study. "Safety issues are largely left up to the companies themselves."

Scary.

For health safety, Europe banned use of phthalates to soften plastic in children's toys.

Critics say the test was too narrow to draw conclusions.

Those raising a stink are led by the Consumer Specialty Products Association, a manufacturers trade group that says, "the study makes unscientific generalizations about the products and the ingredients they contain."

Procter & Gamble, maker of the Febreze Air Freshener that had no phthalates, was among those backing the association.

Walgreens, which had three products in the study, removed all three products and soon will have a phthalate-free version.

"Prior to this study's release, the manufacturer of one of the Walgreens brand products already began the process of reformulating its air freshener to exclude phthalates," said spokeswoman Carol Hively.

SOPUS Products said phthalates are not intentionally added to its product Ozium. SOPUS is studying whether phthalates "may be a byproduct in any of Ozium's formulation ingredients or packaging components."

The NRDC wants federal authorities to require disclosure of all ingredients.

Until then, here's the edge, (tips to make Big Mama proud):

- Remove offending odors. Solomon says avoid temptations to let diaper pails or trash pile up.

- Look for natural ways to eliminate odor. For example, grind lemons in the garbage disposal if it stinks. "If you do need an air freshener, my advice is not to over use it," Solomon says.

Toxic phthalates found in air fresheners
Phthalates are chemicals used in various consumer products, including to soften plastics in children’s toys and to transfer fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics and cause scents to linger.
The chemicals below were found in at least one of the 14 air fresheners NRDC tested.
• Di-ethly Phthalate (DEP): Associated with changes in hormone levels and genital development in humans.
• Di-n-butyl Phthalate (DBP): Recognized as a reproductive toxicant by the National Toxicology Program and the State of California. It can lead to changes in genital development.
• Di-isobutyl Phthalate (DIBP): Associated with changes in male genital development.
• Di-methyl Phthalate (DMP): Inconclusive evidence has shown reproductive toxicity in animal studies.
• Di-isohexyl Phthalate (DIHP): Limited toxicity testing has shown that DIHP is probably a developmental and reproductive toxicant.

Test brands
Air Wick Scented Oil, phthalate level rating: moderate (between 1 and 10 parts per million total phthalates)
Citrus Magic, phthalate level rating: low trace levels (less than 1 part per million totatl phthalates)
Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher, phthalate level rating: no phthalates
Febreze NOTICEables Scented Oil, phthalate level rating: moderate (between 1 and 10 parts per million total phthalates)
Glade Air Infusions, phthalate level rating: moderate (between 1 and 10 parts per million total phthalates)
Glade PlugIn Scented Oil, phthalate level rating: moderate (between 1 and 10 parts per million total phthalates)
Lysol Brand II Disinfectant, phthalate level rating: low trace levels (less than 1 part per million totatl phthalates)
Oust Air Sanitizer Spray, phthalate level rating: moderate (between 1 and 10 parts per million total phthalates)
Oust Fan Liquid Refills, phthalate level rating: low trace levels (less than 1 part per million totatl phthalates)
Ozium Glycol-ized Air Sanitizer, phthalate level rating: highest level (more than 10 parts per million of total phthalates)
Renuzit Subtle Effects, phthalate level rating: no phthalates
Walgreens Air Freshner Spray, phthalate level rating: highest level (more than 10 parts per million of total phthalates)
Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Freshner, phthalate level rating: highest level (more than 10 parts per million of total phthalates)
Walgreens Solid Air Freshner, phthalate level rating: highest level (more than 10 parts per million of total phthalates)

The Consumer's Edge is a twice-monthly column to help consumers in the marketplace. Ivan Penn can be reached at ipenn@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2332.

[Last modified October 5, 2007, 23:04:11]