Makeripples

This article comes to you as a result on an office experience. It was a severe reaction to the deodorizers in the old rented office bathroom. This experience led us to question what goes into those sprays we smell everywhere. I think you will be surprised by the results of our search.

Advertisements on TV seem to make us now believe that the answer to a fresh smelling house is to mask the smell with some artificial odor that we will hopefully view as pleasant. Like vanilla cookies or apple pie.

I think the idea was originally based in pure essential oils like lavender to relax, but like many wonderful natural products the chemical industries version is far less desirable.

There seem to be several kinds of delivery systems for these “sweet smelling poisons”- the spray type, with their un-recyclable aerosol cans or push top plastic delivery systems, the wick type, that send out their fumes continuously and the “plug ins” that allow heat to evaporate the chemicals into the air over a period of weeks.

These products do not, in fact, do anything to improve the quality of the air. Instead, they add a number of pollutants, some designed to deaden your sense of smell, others serving as propellants, and others adding various kinds of toxic perfumes to cover up smells that may offend someone. Many of these ingredients cause irritation of eyes, nose, and lungs.

Many times, pesticides are even included - for what purpose?

A prominent constituent of many of these products is formaldehyde. That can destroy your sense of smell alright, and is one of the worst offenders for respiratory irritation. It has also been admitted by the EPA to be a cause of cancer. Anyone with asthma, lung infections, or other respiratory concerns can be severely affected by formaldehyde. The list of ingredients that may be found in these deodorants is given as follows taken from Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products , by Gosselin, Smith and Hodge, 1984.

The short term effect of exposure has not been studied let alone the long term toxicity.

Animal studies have suggested that isopropyl alcohol is two-three times more potent than ethanol as a CNS depressant. The breakdown product, acetone, is also a CNS depressant.

ACETONE (in: cologne, dishwashing liquid and detergent, nail enamel remover) - On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. “Inhalation can cause dryness of the mouth and throat; dizziness, nausea, decreased coordination, slurred speech, drowsiness, and, in severe exposures, coma.” “Acts primarily as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.”

BENZALDEHYDE (in: perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, Vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent) - Narcotic. Sensitizer. “Local anesthetic, CNS depressant”... “irritation to the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs, and GI tract, causing nausea and abdominal pain.” “May cause kidney damage.” “Do not use with contact lenses.”

BENZYL ACETATE (in: perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants) - Carcinogenic (linked to pancreatic cancer); “From vapors: irritating to eyes and respiratory passages, exciting cough.” “In mice: hyperanemia of the lungs.” “Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects.” “Do not flush to sewer.”

BENZYL ALCOHOL (in: perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener) - “irritating to the upper respiratory tract” ...”headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure.”

CAMPHOR (in: perfume, shaving cream, nail enamel, fabric softener, dishwasher detergent, nail color, stickup air freshener) - “local irritant and CNS stimulant” ...”readily absorbed through body tissues” ...”irritation of eyes, nose and throat” ...”dizziness, confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions” “Avoid inhalation of vapors.”

ETHANOL (in: perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover) - On EPA Hazardous Waste list; symptoms: “...fatigue; irritating to eyes and upper respiratory tract even in low concentrations...” “Inhalation of ethanol vapors can have effects similar to those characteristic of ingestion. These include an initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision, ataxia, stupor...” Causes CNS disorder.

ETHYL ACETATE (in: after shave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid) - Narcotic. On EPA Hazardous Waste list; “...irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract” ...”may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)” ...”defatting effect on skin and may cause drying and cracking” ...”may cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys” “Wash thoroughly after handling.”

LIMONENE (in: perfume, cologne, disinfectant spray, bar soap, shaving cream, deodorants, nail color and remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, air fresheners, after shave, bleach, paint and varnish remover) - Carcinogenic. “Prevent its contact with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer.” “Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before eating, drinking, ...applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene vapor.”

LINALOOL (in: perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant) - Narcotic. ...”respiratory disturbances” ... “Attracts bees.” “In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity and depression ... development of respiratory disturbances leading to death.” ...”depressed frog-heart activity.” Causes CNS disorder.

METHYLENE CHLORIDE (in: shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover) - Banned by the FDA in 1988! No enforcement possible due to trade secret laws protecting chemical fragrance industry. On EPA, RCRA, CERCLA Hazardous Waste lists. “Carcinogenic” ...”Absorbed, stored in body fat, it metabolizes to carbon monoxide, reducing oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.” “Headache, giddiness, stupor, irritability, fatigue, tingling in the limbs.” Causes CNS disorder.

a-PINENE (in: bar and liquid soap, cologne, perfume, shaving cream, deodorants, dishwashing liquid, air freshener) - Sensitizer (damaging to the immune system).

g-TERPINENE (in: cologne, perfume, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, air freshener) - “Causes asthma and CNS disorders.”

a-TERPINEOL (in: perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, bleach powder, laundry bleach, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, vaseline lotion, cologne, soap, hairspray, after shave, roll-on deodorant) - ...”highly irritating to mucous membranes”... “Aspiration into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema.” Can also cause “excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination), hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache.” “Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact.”

Relevant Facts:

• 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers - capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Neurotoxins: At Home and the Workplace, Report by the Committee on Science & Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, Sept. 16, 1986. (Report 99-827)
• Central Nervous System disorders (brain and spine) include Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• A room containing an air freshener had high levels of p-dichlorobenzene (a carcinogen) and ethanol: EPA’s 1991 study.
• An FDA analysis (1968-1972) of 138 compounds used in cosmetics that most frequently involved adverse reactions, identified five chemicals (alpha-terpineol, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, limonene and linalool) that are among the 20 most commonly used in the 31 fragrance products tested by the EPA in 1991!
• Thirty-three million Americans suffer from sinusitis (inflammation or infection of sinus passages).
• Twelve million Americans have asthma. Asthma and asthma deaths have increased over 30% in the past 10 years.

What’s the alternative?

• Simply keeping the house or office clean and well-ventilated and using an exhaust fan, if needed, solves most problems.
• Remove the cause of the offending smell, whether by drying and cleaning off mold, removing rotting food or other material, and emptying the trash regularly.
• Baking soda absorbs odors in the refrigerator and elsewhere.
• Growing plants can help I suggest the book How To Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home Or Office by B. C. Wolverton
• Another good option is an electric potpourri burner with a bit of spices or citrus peel added and simmered. If you don’t a simmering pot simply putting the water and spices in a pan on the stove will help. Citrus has the added benefit of being anti bacterial. If you use essential oils you will have added health benefits, just remember not every one likes or needs the same smells as you do.

In summary, we believe there is a need to realize that “clean” does not have a “scent”!!

Reference: Lance Wallace, Environmental Protection Agency Excerpts from “Health Hazard Information”

References: Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)