A new study done at the University of Washington discovered that 25 commonly used scented products emitted 420 different chemicals. Nearly a quarter are classified as toxic or hazardous under at least one federal law. Only one emitted compound was listed on a product label, and only two were publicly disclosed anywhere.
About half of the products test about made some claim about being green, organic or natural. “Surprisingly,” said the lead author, “The green products’ emissions of hazardous chemicals were not significantly different from the other products.”
More than a third of the products emitted at least one chemical classified as a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and for which the EPA sets no safe exposure level.
Neither cleaning products nor personal care products are required to list ingredients used in fragrances, even though a single “fragrance” in a product can be a mixture of up to several hundred ingredients.
Some of the toxic chemicals found to be emitting from the products included ethanol, acetone (the solvent used in nail polish remover), acetaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde and methylene chloride.
The lead author of the study suggests cleaning with vinegar and baking soda (which I’ve been recommending since 1982).
Scented Consumer Products Shown to Emit Many Unlisted Chemicals
Environmental Impact Assessment Review: Fragranced consumer products: Chemicals emitted, ingredients unlisted
Study FAQs
