Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Dangerous chemicals showing up in some air fresheners Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 12:08 PM ET Comments91Recommend113CBC News Air fresheners marketed as a way to enhance the smell of your home may actually contain dangerous chemicals that could do harm, a CBC News investigation has found. To see how widely the chemicals are used in Canada, the CBC took a sampling of the multitude of air fresheners available and tested them for two types of phthalates, DEP and DBP. Nearly a third contained one or both kinds of chemical. DEP and DBP have been linked to fertility and developmental problems in rats, and are enough of a concern that 12 European countries have banned them from children's toys. Last month, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill that will cut allowable levels of six types of phthalates, and earlier this year, Health Canada instituted a voluntary ban on some phthalates in children's products. The air freshener market in Canada is worth $200 million a year, with three in five Canadians saying they use sprays, gels or stand-alone products in their home. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and in the case of air fresheners and perfumes, to make the scent last longer. Grace Picur, a Winnipeg mother of three, says she uses multiple air fresheners to give the air in her home a little lift. " There's one up there, the Airwick. We have the gel one in the kitchen, and a gel one in the bathroom, and I believe another gel one in the bathroom upstairs. And then air fresheners like the spray, " said Picur, whose home is kept spotless. " I enjoy the clean smell. I enjoy things being neat and tidy around me as well as the floral type of smells around the house, " she added. That type of use rankles the group Environmental Defence, which advocates that there is no safe level of a phthalate. " It's not essential. We don' t need it, and yet we're being exposed to many of these types of products and the chemicals that are contained in them, " said Aaron Freeman, the group's director of policy and campaigns. Freeman argued that because the products are purely for cosmetic purposes, the companies that make them should find ways to remove any toxins. " That's an area where we should be getting those toxic chemicals out of those products. We think that's not a place where we should be putting toxic chemicals that harm our health, " said Freeman. In September 2007, U.S. drugstore chain Walgreens removed several air fresheners from store shelves after testing by the Natural Resources Defense Council found they contained phthalates. The company that made the fresheners also agreed it would no longer use phthalates in the manufacturing process. In Canada, makers of air fresheners refused to be interviewed by the CBC but they defended their products in e-mails, saying that Health Canada has approved the additives. They also said that if phthalates are intentionally added, they would be listed on members' website. The group says it plans to have its members put the ingredients on the package by 2010. Currently, air fresheners do not list ingredients on labels. Picur wasn't happy to learn her efforts to improve her household may actually be having the opposite effect. " That scares me. I mean I don't know if there's going to be any other kind of defects it might cause, and since I have a young son, if that's going to affect him as he grows up … knowing this, I may not be using air fresheners now. " you're bored in retirement cuz your energies drained away, your money had no answer, you just still want more! your life was never different then the guy next door! all your neighbors are competitors, where'd you all go wrong? there never was a mountain to climb. potential friends are now your enemies, where'd you all go wrong? there never was a mountain to climb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I'm surprised this is news. About 30 years ago it was a news item. I'm always surprised they are still in use. I personally use essential oils. Jo , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > > Dangerous chemicals showing up in some air fresheners > Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 12:08 PM ET > Comments91Recommend113CBC News > Air fresheners marketed as a way to enhance the smell of your home may > actually contain dangerous chemicals that could do harm, a CBC News > investigation has found. > > To see how widely the chemicals are used in Canada, the CBC took a > sampling of the multitude of air fresheners available and tested them > for two types of phthalates, DEP and DBP. Nearly a third contained one > or both kinds of chemical. > > DEP and DBP have been linked to fertility and developmental problems > in rats, and are enough of a concern that 12 European countries have > banned them from children's toys. > > Last month, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill that will > cut allowable levels of six types of phthalates, and earlier this > year, Health Canada instituted a voluntary ban on some phthalates in > children's products. > > The air freshener market in Canada is worth $200 million a year, with > three in five Canadians saying they use sprays, gels or stand-alone > products in their home. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and in > the case of air fresheners and perfumes, to make the scent last > longer. > > Grace Picur, a Winnipeg mother of three, says she uses multiple air > fresheners to give the air in her home a little lift. > > " There's one up there, the Airwick. We have the gel one in the > kitchen, and a gel one in the bathroom, and I believe another gel one > in the bathroom upstairs. And then air fresheners like the spray, " > said Picur, whose home is kept spotless. > > " I enjoy the clean smell. I enjoy things being neat and tidy around me > as well as the floral type of smells around the house, " she added. > > That type of use rankles the group Environmental Defence, which > advocates that there is no safe level of a phthalate. > > " It's not essential. We don' t need it, and yet we're being exposed > to > many of these types of products and the chemicals that are contained > in them, " said Aaron Freeman, the group's director of policy and > campaigns. > > Freeman argued that because the products are purely for cosmetic > purposes, the companies that make them should find ways to remove any > toxins. > > " That's an area where we should be getting those toxic chemicals out > of those products. We think that's not a place where we should be > putting toxic chemicals that harm our health, " said Freeman. > > In September 2007, U.S. drugstore chain Walgreens removed several air > fresheners from store shelves after testing by the Natural Resources > Defense Council found they contained phthalates. The company that made > the fresheners also agreed it would no longer use phthalates in the > manufacturing process. > > In Canada, makers of air fresheners refused to be interviewed by the > CBC but they defended their products in e-mails, saying that Health > Canada has approved the additives. They also said that if phthalates > are intentionally added, they would be listed on members' website. > > The group says it plans to have its members put the ingredients on the > package by 2010. Currently, air fresheners do not list ingredients on > labels. > > Picur wasn't happy to learn her efforts to improve her household may > actually be having the opposite effect. > > " That scares me. I mean I don't know if there's going to be any other > kind of defects it might cause, and since I have a young son, if > that's going to affect him as he grows up … knowing this, I may not be > using air fresheners now. " > > > > you're bored in retirement cuz your energies drained away, your money had no answer, you just still want more! your life was never different then the guy next door! > all your neighbors are competitors, where'd you all go wrong? there never was a mountain to climb. potential friends are now your enemies, where'd you all go wrong? there never was a mountain to climb. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on top of the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real flower plants? , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: > > Dangerous chemicals showing up in some air fresheners > Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 12:08 PM ET > Comments91Recommend113CBC News > Air fresheners marketed as a way to enhance the smell of your home may > actually contain dangerous chemicals that could do harm, a CBC News > investigation has found. > > To see how widely the chemicals are used in Canada, the CBC took a > sampling of the multitude of air fresheners available and tested them > for two types of phthalates, DEP and DBP. Nearly a third contained one > or both kinds of chemical. > > DEP and DBP have been linked to fertility and developmental problems > in rats, and are enough of a concern that 12 European countries have > banned them from children's toys. > > Last month, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill that will > cut allowable levels of six types of phthalates, and earlier this > year, Health Canada instituted a voluntary ban on some phthalates in > children's products. > > The air freshener market in Canada is worth $200 million a year, with > three in five Canadians saying they use sprays, gels or stand-alone > products in their home. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and in > the case of air fresheners and perfumes, to make the scent last > longer. > > Grace Picur, a Winnipeg mother of three, says she uses multiple air > fresheners to give the air in her home a little lift. > > " There's one up there, the Airwick. We have the gel one in the > kitchen, and a gel one in the bathroom, and I believe another gel one > in the bathroom upstairs. And then air fresheners like the spray, " > said Picur, whose home is kept spotless. > > " I enjoy the clean smell. I enjoy things being neat and tidy around me > as well as the floral type of smells around the house, " she added. > > That type of use rankles the group Environmental Defence, which > advocates that there is no safe level of a phthalate. > > " It's not essential. We don' t need it, and yet we're being exposed > to > many of these types of products and the chemicals that are contained > in them, " said Aaron Freeman, the group's director of policy and > campaigns. > > Freeman argued that because the products are purely for cosmetic > purposes, the companies that make them should find ways to remove any > toxins. > > " That's an area where we should be getting those toxic chemicals out > of those products. We think that's not a place where we should be > putting toxic chemicals that harm our health, " said Freeman. > > In September 2007, U.S. drugstore chain Walgreens removed several air > fresheners from store shelves after testing by the Natural Resources > Defense Council found they contained phthalates. The company that made > the fresheners also agreed it would no longer use phthalates in the > manufacturing process. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Hello How are you :-) Jo - flower child Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:19 PM Re: maybe you should just open a window.... If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on top of the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real flower plants? , fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:>> Dangerous chemicals showing up in some air fresheners> Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 12:08 PM ET> Comments91Recommend113CBC News> Air fresheners marketed as a way to enhance the smell of your home may> actually contain dangerous chemicals that could do harm, a CBC News> investigation has found.> > To see how widely the chemicals are used in Canada, the CBC took a> sampling of the multitude of air fresheners available and tested them> for two types of phthalates, DEP and DBP. Nearly a third contained one> or both kinds of chemical.> > DEP and DBP have been linked to fertility and developmental problems> in rats, and are enough of a concern that 12 European countries have> banned them from children's toys.> > Last month, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill that will> cut allowable levels of six types of phthalates, and earlier this> year, Health Canada instituted a voluntary ban on some phthalates in> children's products.> > The air freshener market in Canada is worth $200 million a year, with> three in five Canadians saying they use sprays, gels or stand-alone> products in their home. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and in> the case of air fresheners and perfumes, to make the scent last> longer.> > Grace Picur, a Winnipeg mother of three, says she uses multiple air> fresheners to give the air in her home a little lift.> > "There's one up there, the Airwick. We have the gel one in the> kitchen, and a gel one in the bathroom, and I believe another gel one> in the bathroom upstairs. And then air fresheners like the spray,"> said Picur, whose home is kept spotless.> > "I enjoy the clean smell. I enjoy things being neat and tidy around me> as well as the floral type of smells around the house," she added.> > That type of use rankles the group Environmental Defence, which> advocates that there is no safe level of a phthalate.> > "It's not essential. We don' t need it, and yet we're being exposed> to> many of these types of products and the chemicals that are contained> in them," said Aaron Freeman, the group's director of policy and> campaigns.> > Freeman argued that because the products are purely for cosmetic> purposes, the companies that make them should find ways to remove any> toxins.> > "That's an area where we should be getting those toxic chemicals out> of those products. We think that's not a place where we should be> putting toxic chemicals that harm our health," said Freeman.> > In September 2007, U.S. drugstore chain Walgreens removed several air> fresheners from store shelves after testing by the Natural Resources> Defense Council found they contained phthalates. The company that made> the fresheners also agreed it would no longer use phthalates in the> manufacturing process.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 In general I'd agree with that - however, some smells don't come from dirt. I lived for a couple of years in a place which had serious damp problems. When I went away for a week, I got back to find my bedding had gone mouldy, it was that bad! When you get places like that, no matter how much you clean them they will still smell! Personally, I preferred incense to perfumes, though! BBPeter2008/9/11 flower child <zurumato If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on top of the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real flower plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 That's true - and incense can be lovely. I find that cooking smells linger until the next day and you are not going to clean the whole house after dinner every day. Jo - Peter Kebbell Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:49 PM Re: Re: maybe you should just open a window.... In general I'd agree with that - however, some smells don't come from dirt. I lived for a couple of years in a place which had serious damp problems. When I went away for a week, I got back to find my bedding had gone mouldy, it was that bad! When you get places like that, no matter how much you clean them they will still smell! Personally, I preferred incense to perfumes, though!BBPeter 2008/9/11 flower child <zurumato (AT) earthlink (DOT) net> If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on top ofthe smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some realflower plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 hi Jo, How are you! I live in florida now. I have been here three weeks. I lived in manhattan for a year at my mom's apartment where I grew up. I had a job in television and was able to save a little money. However my husband and I fought over the phone a lot. So finally he said " if you don't come back to florida, I will file for divorce " So, I asked my boss if I could work from home and he said yes. So here I am in florida and I got to keep my ny job. My two little boys are going to a good school. And I did miss gardening. Regards, Anouk , " jo.heartwork " <jo.heartwork wrote: > > Hello > > How are you :-) > > Jo > > > - > flower child > > Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:19 PM > Re: maybe you should just open a window.... > > > If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on top of > the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real > flower plants? > > , fraggle <EBbrewpunx@> wrote: > > > > Dangerous chemicals showing up in some air fresheners > > Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 12:08 PM ET > > Comments91Recommend113CBC News > > Air fresheners marketed as a way to enhance the smell of your home > may > > actually contain dangerous chemicals that could do harm, a CBC News > > investigation has found. > > > > To see how widely the chemicals are used in Canada, the CBC took a > > sampling of the multitude of air fresheners available and tested > them > > for two types of phthalates, DEP and DBP. Nearly a third contained > one > > or both kinds of chemical. > > > > DEP and DBP have been linked to fertility and developmental problems > > in rats, and are enough of a concern that 12 European countries have > > banned them from children's toys. > > > > Last month, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill that > will > > cut allowable levels of six types of phthalates, and earlier this > > year, Health Canada instituted a voluntary ban on some phthalates in > > children's products. > > > > The air freshener market in Canada is worth $200 million a year, > with > > three in five Canadians saying they use sprays, gels or stand- alone > > products in their home. Phthalates are used to soften plastic and in > > the case of air fresheners and perfumes, to make the scent last > > longer. > > > > Grace Picur, a Winnipeg mother of three, says she uses multiple air > > fresheners to give the air in her home a little lift. > > > > " There's one up there, the Airwick. We have the gel one in the > > kitchen, and a gel one in the bathroom, and I believe another gel > one > > in the bathroom upstairs. And then air fresheners like the spray, " > > said Picur, whose home is kept spotless. > > > > " I enjoy the clean smell. I enjoy things being neat and tidy around > me > > as well as the floral type of smells around the house, " she added. > > > > That type of use rankles the group Environmental Defence, which > > advocates that there is no safe level of a phthalate. > > > > " It's not essential. We don' t need it, and yet we're being exposed > > to > > many of these types of products and the chemicals that are contained > > in them, " said Aaron Freeman, the group's director of policy and > > campaigns. > > > > Freeman argued that because the products are purely for cosmetic > > purposes, the companies that make them should find ways to remove > any > > toxins. > > > > " That's an area where we should be getting those toxic chemicals out > > of those products. We think that's not a place where we should be > > putting toxic chemicals that harm our health, " said Freeman. > > > > In September 2007, U.S. drugstore chain Walgreens removed several > air > > fresheners from store shelves after testing by the Natural Resources > > Defense Council found they contained phthalates. The company that > made > > the fresheners also agreed it would no longer use phthalates in the > > manufacturing process. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 If you put Anise, and Cinnamon in a low boiling pot, right before your guest arrive, your house will smell lovely and inviting! Also, you can drink this as a tea. , " jo.heartwork " <jo.heartwork wrote: > > That's true - and incense can be lovely. > > I find that cooking smells linger until the next day and you are not going to clean the whole house after dinner every day. > > Jo > > - > Peter Kebbell > > Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:49 PM > Re: Re: maybe you should just open a window.... > > > > In general I'd agree with that - however, some smells don't come from dirt. I lived for a couple of years in a place which had serious damp problems. When I went away for a week, I got back to find my bedding had gone mouldy, it was that bad! When you get places like that, no matter how much you clean them they will still smell! Personally, I preferred incense to perfumes, though! > > BB > Peter > > > 2008/9/11 flower child <zurumato > > If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on top of > the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real > flower plants? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 Hi Anouk I'm glad it all worked out well. Does this mean you may be able to talk to us again more often here on Vegan Chat? I do hope so. Jo , " flower child " <zurumato wrote: > > hi Jo, > > How are you! > > I live in florida now. I have been here three weeks. I lived in > manhattan for a year at my mom's apartment where I grew up. I had a > job in television and was able to save a little money. However > my husband and I fought over the phone a lot. > So finally he said " if you don't come back to florida, I will file > for divorce " > > So, I asked my boss if I could work from home and he said yes. So > here I am in florida and I got to keep my ny job. > > My two little boys are going to a good school. And I did miss > gardening. > > Regards, > Anouk > > , " jo.heartwork " <jo.heartwork@> > wrote: > > > > Hello > > > > How are you :-) > > > > Jo > > > > > > - > > flower child > > > > Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:19 PM > > Re: maybe you should just open a window.... > > > > > > If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on > top of > > the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real > > flower plants? > > > > , fraggle <EBbrewpunx@> wrote: > > > > > > Dangerous chemicals showing up in some air fresheners > > > Last Updated: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | 12:08 PM ET > > > Comments91Recommend113CBC News > > > Air fresheners marketed as a way to enhance the smell of your > home > > may > > > actually contain dangerous chemicals that could do harm, a CBC > News > > > investigation has found. > > > > > > To see how widely the chemicals are used in Canada, the CBC > took a > > > sampling of the multitude of air fresheners available and > tested > > them > > > for two types of phthalates, DEP and DBP. Nearly a third > contained > > one > > > or both kinds of chemical. > > > > > > DEP and DBP have been linked to fertility and developmental > problems > > > in rats, and are enough of a concern that 12 European countries > have > > > banned them from children's toys. > > > > > > Last month, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved a bill > that > > will > > > cut allowable levels of six types of phthalates, and earlier > this > > > year, Health Canada instituted a voluntary ban on some > phthalates in > > > children's products. > > > > > > The air freshener market in Canada is worth $200 million a > year, > > with > > > three in five Canadians saying they use sprays, gels or stand- > alone > > > products in their home. Phthalates are used to soften plastic > and in > > > the case of air fresheners and perfumes, to make the scent last > > > longer. > > > > > > Grace Picur, a Winnipeg mother of three, says she uses multiple > air > > > fresheners to give the air in her home a little lift. > > > > > > " There's one up there, the Airwick. We have the gel one in the > > > kitchen, and a gel one in the bathroom, and I believe another > gel > > one > > > in the bathroom upstairs. And then air fresheners like the > spray, " > > > said Picur, whose home is kept spotless. > > > > > > " I enjoy the clean smell. I enjoy things being neat and tidy > around > > me > > > as well as the floral type of smells around the house, " she > added. > > > > > > That type of use rankles the group Environmental Defence, which > > > advocates that there is no safe level of a phthalate. > > > > > > " It's not essential. We don' t need it, and yet we're being > exposed > > > to > > > many of these types of products and the chemicals that are > contained > > > in them, " said Aaron Freeman, the group's director of policy and > > > campaigns. > > > > > > Freeman argued that because the products are purely for cosmetic > > > purposes, the companies that make them should find ways to > remove > > any > > > toxins. > > > > > > " That's an area where we should be getting those toxic > chemicals out > > > of those products. We think that's not a place where we should > be > > > putting toxic chemicals that harm our health, " said Freeman. > > > > > > In September 2007, U.S. drugstore chain Walgreens removed > several > > air > > > fresheners from store shelves after testing by the Natural > Resources > > > Defense Council found they contained phthalates. The company > that > > made > > > the fresheners also agreed it would no longer use phthalates in > the > > > manufacturing process. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2008 Report Share Posted September 12, 2008 That sounds like a good idea. Jo , " flower child " <zurumato wrote: > > If you put Anise, and Cinnamon in a low boiling pot, > right before your guest arrive, your house will smell lovely and > inviting! > > Also, you can drink this as a tea. > > > > , " jo.heartwork " <jo.heartwork@> > wrote: > > > > That's true - and incense can be lovely. > > > > I find that cooking smells linger until the next day and you are > not going to clean the whole house after dinner every day. > > > > Jo > > > > - > > Peter Kebbell > > > > Thursday, September 11, 2008 4:49 PM > > Re: Re: maybe you should just open a > window.... > > > > > > > > In general I'd agree with that - however, some smells don't come > from dirt. I lived for a couple of years in a place which had serious > damp problems. When I went away for a week, I got back to find my > bedding had gone mouldy, it was that bad! When you get places like > that, no matter how much you clean them they will still smell! > Personally, I preferred incense to perfumes, though! > > > > BB > > Peter > > > > > > 2008/9/11 flower child <zurumato@> > > > > If your house smells you should clean it. not spray perfume on > top of > > the smell. If you like the smell of flowers how about some real > > flower plants? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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