Fragrances In Common Household Products Contain Many Toxins

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Originally published August 15 2008

 

Fragrances in Common Household Products Contain Many Toxins

by Ella Andersen

 

 

(NaturalNews) Every day, we all try hard to do what is best for

ourselves and our families, so it is very disconcerting and worrisome

when we discover that everyday products such as laundry detergent,

cleaning supplies, soaps and cosmetics, air sanitizers and sprays,

etc. contain carcinogenic chemicals and harmful substances.

 

According to a study that was posted on the Environmental Impact

Assessment Review and reported by CBS, there are many different kinds

of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in laundry detergents, air

fresheners (in solid, spray and oil form), dryer sheets, and fabric

softener. VOCs are small substances that evaporate into the air.

 

The study worked by isolating the products in a designated area in

the laboratory at room temperature. By using mass spectrometry and

gas chromatography, the investigator, Anne C. Steinemann –- who was

prompted to conduct the study because of the 200 complaints she

received about such common products -– was able to evaluate the

amount of VOCs in the air. With an arbitrarily selected ceiling

number of 300 micrograms, Steinemann was able to detect 100 VOCs in

the air at the ceiling number. This is important because the

threshold that she set was selected because it is the level at which

it is considered dangerous to have VOC levels in that high range. She

was able to identify some of the VOCs, discovering that 10 of those

that she found were considered toxic under the U.S. federal law.

Furthermore, three out of ten of the VOCs were considered air

pollutants: acetaldehyde, chloromethane, and 1,4 dioxane.

 

So what does this all mean? It means that there are chemicals in

everyday household staples that could be harming your health and you

may not even be aware of them. To combat this, consider switching to

a more natural alternative to commercial laundry detergents. Good

brands of laundry detergent include Bodhi Soap Nuts which come from a

Chinese soapberry tree, found at (http://www.betterlifegoods.com) ,

or Dr. Bronner's Soap (can be found in local health food store). If

these kinds of products are out of your price bracket, consider

buying scentless detergent over their heavily fragranced, carcinogen-

filled counter parts.

 

As for air fresheners and scents, consider using organic brands, or

better yet, make your own. To add a nice citrus scent to any room,

just get some pure water and add 50 drops of orange oil. Another good

way to create a homemade scent is to get some baking soda (about 2

tbls. or as needed) and add any essential oil that you desire. These

and many more recipes are great for freshening up any household and

are safe, effective, and even healthy. Many recipes like this can be

found in the book 500 Formulas for Aromatherapy by Carol & David

Schiller, this book has a great many details on practical uses for

aromatherapy, particularly for creating helpful and healthful scents.

 

The Fragrance Materials Association has basically dismissed the

study; however, that lends no implication that we have to take that

same approach. In these harsh times of a difficult economy and a

daily-worsening environment, new actions need to be undertaken to

protect ourselves from ingesting the harsh chemicals in our

surroundings, whether it be in the form of food, or invisible

particulate matter.

 

Sources:

 

1. (http://www.webmd.com/news/20080725/frag...)

 

2. Schiller, Carol & David. 500 Formulas for Aromatherapy. Sterling

Publishing Company 1994.

 

 

About the author

Ella Andersen is a college student who intensely researchs topics on

health and nutrition. In college, she is furthering her love of

nutrition by pursuing a degree in clinical dietetics.

This passion for natural health, nutrition and wellness has driven

her to run her own blog:

http://www.snhbw.blogspot.com

 

 

 

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