Air Freshener

You know what stinks? Using toxic air fresheners at home or in

your car. They can release air-polluting chemicals that can
actually make you sick. Some of the most popular air fresheners
on the market contain phthalates, which are known to cause
everything from birth defects to cancer. There’s nothing too sweet
smelling about that. Do Your Part before you spray, plug in or
light some traditional air fresheners and check out some safer
alternatives.
• Baking soda: Nontoxic baking soda is cheap, safe and
versatile. It can be sprinkled on or in everything from trash cans
to carpets. It doesn’t cover up smells. Instead, it absorbs and
neutralizes them without releasing any pollutants in your home.
• White vinegar: Vinegar is another all natural – and super
effective – solution for tough odors. You can use it in the washing
machine or dishwasher to tackle tough smells or put a little bit in
small, hidden containers around your home to soak up unwanted
odors.
• Soy candles: No one wants to light a scented candle only to
breathe in petroleum by-products. When you burn paraffin
candles, that’s exactly what you’re doing. Instead opt for natural
beeswax candles or ones made from soy.
• Open the windows: Did you know that the air inside our
homes is often more polluted than the air outside? That’s another
reason to open up those windows and doors when you are trying
to get rid of offending smells – without covering them up with
chemicals.
• Essential oils: Essential oils are plant-based oils that come in
all sorts of soothing scents such as lavender and lemongrass.
Adding a few drops of your favorite on cotton balls is a safer way
to scent your home. You can also add a few drops to a spray bottle
filled with water for another way to freshen up the air in your
home.
• Spice it up: Boiling a little bit of water with a sweet smelling
spice such as cinnamon or nutmeg will make your home smell
downright delicious. Other good options are ginger or allspice.
• Buy nontoxic alternatives: If you prefer to buy a safe air
freshener, you can find nontoxic ones with a little digging.

Ingredients
In addition to the adsorbents, oxidizers, surfactants,
and disinfectants listed above, ingredients in air fresheners can
include fragrances, aerosol propellants, preservatives,
and solvents such as mineral oilor 2-butoxyethanol and
other glycol ethers. As fragrances, air freshener preparations
often include terpenes such as limonene.
A report issued in 2005 by the Bureau Européen des Unions de
Consommateurs (BEUC) found that many air freshener products
emit allergens and toxic air
pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, terpenes, styrene, ph
thalate esters, and toluene.[3][4]
In 2020 air fresheners (as well as cleaning solutions and products
used to clean cars) will need to list any of their ingredients which
are on California's list of 2,300 harmful chemicals, based on a
California law passed in 2017.[5] A California study in 2006 found
that the prominent products of the reaction of terpenes found in
air fresheners with ozone included formaldehyde, hydroxyl
radical, and secondary ultrafine particles.[6] It is not clear if
manufacturers will need to list such chemicals which are not
ingredients, but form when the air freshener is placed in the air.

Toxicity
Many air fresheners employ carcinogens, volatile organic
compounds and known toxins such as phthalate esters in their
formulas. A Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study of
13 common household air fresheners found that most of the
surveyed products contain chemicals that can
aggravate asthma and affect reproductive development. The
NRDC called for more rigorous supervision of the manufacturers
and their products, which are widely assumed to be safe:
The study assessed scented sprays, gels, and plug-in air
fresheners. Independent lab testing confirmed the presence of
phthalates, or hormone-disrupting chemicals that may pose a
particular health risk to babies and young children, in 12 of the 14
products—including those marked 'all natural.' None of the
products had these chemicals listed on their labels.[7]
On September 19, 2007, along with the Sierra Club, Alliance for
Healthy Homes, and the National Center for Healthy Housing, the
NRDC filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to report
the findings.[8]
The University of Bristol's Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and
Children (ALSPAC) found that exposure to volatile organic
compounds through frequent use of air fresheners and other
aerosols in the home was found to correlate with
increased earaches and diarrhea in infants, and with
increased depression and headaches in their mothers.[9][10]
In 2008, Anne C. Steinemann of the University of
Washington published a study of top-selling air fresheners and
laundry products.[11][12] She found that all products tested gave off
chemicals regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws,
including carcinogens with no safe exposure level, but none of
these chemicals were listed on any of the product labels
or Material Safety Data Sheets. Chemicals included acetone, the
active ingredient in paint thinner and nail-polish
remover; chloromethane, a neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant;
and acetaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, both carcinogens. A plug-in
air freshener contained more than 20 different volatile organic
compounds, with more than one-third classified as toxic or
hazardous under federal laws. Even air fresheners called
"organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous
chemicals, including carcinogens.
In 2009, Stanley M. Caress of the University of West Georgia and
Anne C. Steinemann of the University of Washington published
results from two national epidemiological studies of health effects
from exposure to air fresheners. They found that nearly 20
percent of the general population and 34 percent of asthmatics
report headaches, breathing difficulties, or other health problems
when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers.[13]
Lysol: Harmful or Helpful?
Ironically, manufactured chemicals like BPA represent how hazardous our
contemporary lifestyles can be, but there is another, better known chemical compound,
Lysol, that helps keep much of America safe.

Many common products have

them. Your office has them. Your car has them. Even your home
has them. When it comes to chemicals that negatively impact
your health — otherwise known as toxins — their omnipresence is
downright frightening. According to op-ed New York
Times columnist Nicholas Kristoff, “Your body is probably home to
a chemical called bisphenol A, or BPA. It’s a synthetic estrogen
that United States factories now use in everything from plastics to
epoxies — to the tune of six pounds per American per year.” Not
worried yet? Then read his next frightening fact. “More than 92
percent of Americans have BPA in their urine, and scientists have
linked it — though not conclusively — to everything from breast
cancer to obesity, from attention deficit disorder to genital
abnormalities in boys and girls alike.” With such horrendous
statistics looming near us constantly, it’s about time we fight back
and take control of our own health! How better to do this than with
toxins. The irony is that while manufactured chemicals like BPA
represent how hazardous our contemporary lifestyles can be,
there is another, better known chemical compound that helps
keep much of America safe. I’m even willing to bet you have
some in your pantry right now. Lysol brand disinfectant is the go-
to spray, wipe or wash that many of us grab when something is
gooey, sticky, icky or downright gross. While Lysol products aren’t
able to stop our absorption of other man-made chemical
compounds like BPA, the company website does offer a bounty of
information on the many uses and many products within their
brand. This chemical compound is used to kill unwanted living
buggies like fungus, germs, viruses and bacteria. The main
ingredient in the Lysol products is benzalkonium chloride, which is
highly toxic to fish and other aquatic life, mildly toxic to birds and
only slightly toxic — passing as safe — to mammals. Because of
this “slight toxicity,” my curiosity led me to read through all of the
fine print on my household can of Lysol disinfectant spray.
Typically, I utilize the spray like this: I wipe counters and other
surfaces clean of any loose food debris. Then, I spray heavily with
the handy-dandy Lysol. I scrub the stuck-on food debris until it
comes off. Lastly, I let it all air dry. Not surprisingly, Lysol has a
better understanding of how to properly apply the chemicals. The
website suggests handling the spray as follows:
To disinfect:

 For pre-cleaned surfaces: Spray two to three seconds until

covered with mist. Allow to stand for 10 minutes to air dry.
 For hard, non-porous food-contact surfaces: Spray until
covered with mist, let stand for 10 minutes, then rinse
thoroughly.

To sanitize:

 Spray until covered with mist, let stand for 30 seconds.

To control and prevent mold and mildew and their odors:

 Spray pre-cleaned surface until covered with mist.

  Repeat application if necessary.

To deodorize:

 Spray on surface as needed.

It seems that my approach of wipe, spray, scrub and let dry was
mostly correct; but in the areas where food is handled, a thorough
washing is necessary as well. This makes sense, since Lysol is,
after all, a poisonous chemical that kills various viruses (including
H1N1) and other bad stuff that can make people very ill. Oh, and
getting back to that pesky business with the BPA, it seems that
the best tactic is to avoid its consumption in the first place. In the
article, Kristoff suggests steering clear of plastic containers that
contain BPA, such as the ones we microwave or store our food in
or drink water out of. Avoid these items and you’ve already
dramatically reduced your exposure to BPA.

By Tyler Farmer

November 20, 2009

What is BPA and Why is
it Bad for You?
BPA is an industrial chemical that may find its way into people's food.

Some experts claim that it is toxic, and that people should make an effort to
avoid it.

But is BPA really that bad, and should you avoid it at all costs? This is a
detailed review of BPA and its health effects.

What is BPA?
BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical that is added to many commercial products,
including food containers and hygiene products.

It was first discovered in the 1890s, but chemists in the 1950s realized that it
could be mixed with other compounds to produce strong and resilient
polycarbonate plastics.

These days, BPA-containing plastics are commonly used in food containers,

baby bottles and other things.

BPA is also used to make epoxy resins, which are put on the inner lining of
canned food containers to keep the metal from corroding and breaking.

BOTTOM LINE:BPA is a synthetic compound found in many plastics, as well as

in the lining of canned food containers.
Which Products Contain the Most
BPA?
Common products that may contain BPA include:

 Items packaged in plastic containers

 Canned foods
 Toiletries
 Feminine hygiene products
 Thermal printer receipts
 CDs and DVDs
 Household electronics
 Eyeglass lenses
 Sports equipment
 Dental filling sealants

It's worth noting that many manufacturers have now switched to BPA-free
products, in which BPA has been replaced by bisphenol-S (BPS) or bisphenol-F
(BPF).

However, recent research reports that even small concentrations of BPS and
BPF may disrupt the function of your cells in a way similar to BPA. Thus, BPA-
free bottles may not be the solution (1).

Plastic items labeled with the recycling numbers 3 and 7 or the letters "PC"
likely contain BPA, BPS or BPF.
BOTTOM LINE:BPA and its alternatives — BPS and BPF — may be found in
many commonly used products, which are often labeled with recycling codes
3, 7 or the letters "PC."

How Does BPA Enter the Body?

The main source of BPA exposure is through your diet (2).

That's because when BPA containers are made, not all the BPA gets sealed into
the product. This allows part of it to break free and mix with the container's
contents once food or fluids are added (3, 4).

For instance, a recent study found that BPA levels in urine decreased by 66%
following 3 days of avoiding packaged foods (5).

Another study had participants eat one serving of either fresh or canned soup
daily for 5 days. Urine levels of BPA were 1,221% higher in those who
consumed the canned soup (6).

Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that BPA levels in
breastfed babies were up to 8 times lower than those measured in babies fed
liquid formula from BPA-containing bottles (7).

BOTTOM LINE:The diet is by far the biggest source of BPA for humans,
particularly packaged foods and canned foods. Babies fed formula from BPA-
containing bottles also have high levels in their bodies.

Is BPA Bad For You?

Many experts claim that BPA is harmful, but others disagree.
This section explains what BPA does in the body, and why its health effects
remain controversial.

BPA's Biological Mechanisms

BPA is said to mimic the structure and function of the hormone estrogen (2).

Due to its estrogen-like shape, BPA can bind to estrogen receptors and
influence bodily processes, such as growth, cell repair, fetal development,
energy levels and reproduction.

In addition, BPA may also have the ability to interact with other hormone
receptors, such as thyroid hormone receptors, thus altering their function (8).

Your body is sensitive to changes in hormone levels, which is the reason why
BPA's ability to mimic estrogen is believed to affect your health.

The BPA Controversy

Given the information above, many people wonder whether BPA should be
banned.

Its use has already been restricted in the EU, Canada, China and Malaysia,
particularly in products for babies and young children.

Some US states have followed suit, but no federal regulations have been
instituted.

In 2014, the FDA released its latest report, which confirmed the original 1980s
daily exposure limit of 50 mcg/kg (about 23 mcg/lb) daily and concluded that
BPA is probably safe at the levels currently allowed (9).
However, research in rodents shows negative effects of BPA at much lower
levels, as little as 10 mcg/kg daily. Also, research in monkeys shows that levels
equivalent to those currently measured in humans have negative effects on
reproduction (10, 11).

A review from 2006 may help explain the discrepancies. It revealed that all the
industry-funded studies found no effects of BPA exposure, while 92% of the
studies not funded by industry found significant negative effects (12).

BOTTOM LINE:BPA has a similar structure as the hormone estrogen. It may

bind to estrogen receptors and affect the function of your body.

BPA May Cause Infertility in Men

and Women
BPA may affect several aspects of fertility.

One study observed that women with frequent miscarriages had about 3 times
as much BPA in their blood as women with successful pregnancies (13).

What's more, studies of women undergoing fertility treatments showed those

with higher levels of BPA to have proportionally lower egg production and be
up to 2 times less likely to become pregnant (14, 15).

Among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), men with the highest
BPA levels were 30–46% more likely to produce lower-quality embryos (16).

A separate study found that men with higher BPA levels were 3-4 times more
likely to have a low sperm concentration and low sperm count (17).
Additionally, men working in BPA manufacturing companies in China reported
4.5 times more erectile difficulty and less overall sex-life satisfaction than other
men (18).

However, although the effects above are notable, several recent reviews agree
that more studies are needed to strengthen the body of evidence
(8, 19, 20, 21).

BOTTOM LINE:Several studies have shown that BPA can negatively affect
many aspects of both male and female fertility.

Negative Effects of BPA on Babies

Most studies — but not all — have observed that children born to mothers
exposed to BPA at work weigh up to 0.5 lbs (or 0.2 kg) less at birth than
children of unexposed mothers (22, 23, 24).

Children born to BPA-exposed parents also tended to have a shorter

anogenital distance, which further points to BPA's hormonal effects during
development (25).

In addition, children born to mothers with higher BPA levels were

more hyperactive, anxious and depressed. They also showed 1.5 times more
emotional reactivity and 1.1 times more aggressiveness (26, 27, 28).

Finally, BPA exposure during early life is also thought to influence prostate and
breast tissue development in ways that increase the risk of cancer.

However, while there are ample animal studies to support this, human studies
are less conclusive (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34).
BOTTOM LINE:BPA exposure during early life may influence birth weight,
hormonal development, behavior and cancer risk in later life.

BPA Exposure Has Been Linked to

Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes
Human studies have examined the link between BPA levels and blood
pressure.

They reported a 27–135% greater risk of high blood pressure in people with
high BPA levels (35, 36).

Moreover, a survey of 1,455 Americans linked higher BPA levels to an 18-63%

greater risk of heart disease, and a 21-60% greater risk of diabetes (37).

In a later study, higher BPA levels were linked to a 68-130% higher risk of
developing type 2 diabetes (38).

Finally, participants with the highest BPA levels were 37% more likely to
have insulin resistance, a key driver of the metabolic syndrome and type 2
diabetes (39).

However, some studies found no links between BPA and these diseases
(40, 41, 42).

BOTTOM LINE:Higher BPA levels seem to be linked to an increased risk of

type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
BPA May Raise Your Risk of
Obesity
Obese women were observed to have 47% higher BPA levels than their
normal-weight counterparts (43).

Several studies also report participants with the highest BPA levels to be 50–
85% more likely to be obese and 59% more likely to have a large waist
circumference. Not all studies confirm these findings though
(37, 39, 44, 45, 46, 47).

Interestingly, similar patterns were observed in children and adolescents

(48, 49).

However, although prenatal exposure to BPA was linked to increased weight

gain in animal models, this has not been strongly confirmed in humans
(50, 51).

BOTTOM LINE:BPA exposure is linked to an increased risk of obesity and

increased waist circumference. However, more research is needed.

BPA May Cause Other Health

Problems
BPA exposure may also be linked to the following health issues:

 Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): BPA levels were observed to be 46%

higher in women with PCOS, compared to their healthy counterparts (47).
 Premature delivery: Women with higher BPA levels during pregnancy were
91% more likely to deliver before 37 weeks (52).

 Asthma: Higher prenatal exposure to BPA, especially at week 16, was linked
to a 130% higher risk of wheezing in infants under 6 months. Early
childhood exposure to BPA was also linked to wheezing in later childhood
(53, 54).

 Liver function: Higher BPA levels were linked to a 29% higher risk of
abnormal liver enzyme levels (37).

 Immune function: BPA levels may be linked to worse immune function

(55).

 Thyroid function: Higher BPA levels were linked to abnormal levels of

thyroid hormones, indicating impaired thyroid function (56, 57, 58).

 Brain function: African green monkeys exposed to BPA levels judged safe
by the EPAshowed loss of connections between brain cells (59).

BOTTOM LINE:BPA exposure has also been linked to several other health
problems. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

How to Minimize Your Exposure

to BPA
Chances are that you want to try to avoid BPA, given the negative effects in so
many studies.

Although avoiding it completely may be impossible, there are some ways to

get rid of most of it.

Here are a few effective ways to minimize your exposure to BPA:

 Avoid packaged foods: Eat mostly fresh, whole foods. Stay away from
canned foods or foods packaged in plastic containers labeled with recycling
numbers 3, 7 or the letters "PC."

 Drink from glass bottles: Buy liquids that come in glass bottles instead of
plastic bottles or cans, and use glass baby bottles instead of plastic ones.

 Stay away from BPA products: As much as possible, limit your contact
with receipts.

 Be selective with toys: Make sure that plastic toys you buy for your child
are made from BPA-free material, especially for toys your little ones are
likely to chew or suck on.

 Don't microwave plastic: Microwave and store food in glass rather than
plastic.

 Buy powdered infant formula: Some recommend powders over liquids

from BPA containers, as liquid is likely to absorb more BPA from the
container.

BOTTOM LINE:There are several simple ways to significantly reduce your

exposure to BPA from the diet and environment.

Should You Worry about BPA?

In light of the evidence, taking steps to limit your BPA exposure is probably a
good idea.

In particular, pregnant women may benefit from making an effort to avoid

BPA as much as possible, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.

As for others, occasionally drinking from a "PC" plastic bottle or eating from a
can is probably not a reason to panic.
That being said, swapping plastic containers for BPA-free ones requires very
little effort for a potentially big impact.

Plus, when it comes to your diet, the fresh whole foods linked to optimal
health rarely come packaged in containers with BPA.