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

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Question from Leslie

Hi Debra,

What is your opinion of the toxicity – if any – of flannel sheets? We are looking at 5-oz and 6-oz flannel sheets from Lands’ End. Some of them are organic, others are not. Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I have been sleeping on cotton flannel sheets every night for more than two decades. I love them! They do not have formaldehyde finishes like many other cotton sheets.

This is a good time to buy them. I was walking through Target over the weekend and they had cotton flannel sheet sets for $19.95. Go grab them!

I always wash my flannel sheets before I sleep on them and have never had a set that had a problem. Even though it’s hot and humid here in Florida, I sleep on flannel sheets even in the summer–they are so absorbent, they are actually cooler (and nice and warm in the winter).

Two thumbs up for cotton flannel sheets.

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Question from Violet56

Can bedbugs live in a second hand computer screen? My son works for the city. He would like to replace our ancient computer screen, with a more recent model (used/second hand one). He is able to bring home, to recycle, a nicer computer screen – as each day the city picks up items (furniture, computers, etc.), which are discarded, by the citizens of this suburb, and they are then picked up by recycling companies. He has seen perfectly good computer screens. I am paranoid that there may be bedbugs in the computer screen!!! Is this possible? Thank you!!

Debra’s Answer

I did a bit of searching, but couldn’t find anything specific about computer screens. There have been cautions about bedbugs in laptop computers. Also apparently you can kill bedbugs by heating the item to 120 degrees.

If it’s really important to you to have this computer screen, you could put it in a plastic bag for a few days before bringing it in your house and see if any bedbugs emerge.

I’m not a bedbug expert, but that makes sense to me.

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Question from Gigi

I am in the process of selecting grout for porcelain tile that is about 12.6 x 12.6”, Bianco by Ceramica Alberdi via The Tile Shop. It will go in the kitchen, washroom and bathroom and will be installed over Hardibacker. We live over a crawl space and are located in Southern Virginia.

I came across good reviews from relatively new products called StarQuartz Quartz-Lock and Quartz-Lock2 which are urethane, pre-mixed grouts (not cement or epoxy based). This item is sold at GreenBuildingSupply.com, a very good website and brick and mortar store in terms of selling low/non-toxic building products.

Is anyone familiar with either product?

What is your opinion regarding the urethane?

Debra’s Answer

Readers, any experience with this product?

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Question from Lucy H

I have MCS and am interested in have my teeth whitened. One effect of all my health troubles seems to have been that my teeth now stain easily and I do drink tea. There are many prodcuts available including ones done by the dentist. I wonder if anyone has experience with any of them enough to know which are safe, which are effective. Can you do it yourself as well as the dentist? My dentist said hers was basically hydrogen peroxide-based. But unless the dentist is aware, there may be other ingredients. She gave a sample which I have not yet tried. Wanted to get some input.

I am grateful that my health issues have subsided enough that I can pay attention to this, basically cosmetic issue.

Any thoughts welcomed

Debra’s Answer

Readers? I have no experience with teeth whitening.

We did have this question once before at Q&A: Teeth Whitening Strips.

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Question from Cris

Hello Debra,

Great website, thanks for hosting it!

Here’s my situation / question:

I am looking to buy a faucet water purification system. The Aquasana seems to have good ratings, filters my chemicals/metals of interest and is very affordable. I contacted the company to see what it was made from and if it off-gassed. They said, “The filter housing are made of a material called ABS. It is a 20% glass plastic. All materials used go through extraction testing and meet NSF Standard 61. Meaning these are all non leaching materials”.

This seemed OK, but then I found out that the tubing (post-filter) was made from PVC. I asked if they had test data showing water to be phtalate free. They didn’t answer my question, but instead repeated that, “all materials used go through extraction testing and meet NSF Standard 61” and then added that “the water doesn’t remain in tubing it runs straight through so there is not enough contact time to leach”. I thought the time explaination seemed reasonable, but I am still concerned about the phtalates.

What do you think?… Do you know anyone who has used this product?

Debra’s Answer

I don’t know anyone who has used this product, but will say that they are correct in that the water has to have contact time with the PVC for phthalates to leach. If there is water sitting in the tube overnight, phthalates will leach into that water.

You could ask them for test results of the water that comes out of the filter and see if it contains phthalates.

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Question from HEG

I am confused about Gaussmeters and their ability to detect radiofrequency radiation. There is a radio broadcast tower about a third of a mile from my apartment so I used a gaussmeter to check EMF levels around my house. I was reassured that the levels read about 0.1-0.4 milligauss in almost all areas of my home other than my kitchen (which read about 1.6 milligauss with all appliances turned off). However, now I am under the impression that I may not have tested what I was truly looking for – potentially high radiofrequency radiation. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Debra’s Answer

I’m going to let Richard Conrad answer this one.

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Question from Gigi

I am about to install porcelain tile. The Tile Shop recommended that I use Grout Release. Can anyone recommend one that has little or no toxicity?

Debra’s Answer

I’ve installed a lot of tile and have never used grout release. Neither my husband nor I had ever even heard of it.

But I did look it up and found out that it’s a temporary coating put on to the tile before grouting to make it easy to release the excess grout. It’s especially recommended for porous tiles like Mexican pavers to keep the tile from absorbing moisture during grouting.

I don’t see any reason why one would need to use grout release on porcelain tile, which is not porous. Just apply your grout and wipe up the excess according to directions and it will be fine.

Readers, has anyone ever used grout release?

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Question from Tanya

I am using a Canon MX870 inkjet printer and I seem to be reacting to the ink . According to the MSDS the ingredients are:

Glycerin

Glycol

Water

Heterocyclic compound

Lacatam

Debra’s Answer

Glycol can mean many things.

If you are having a problem using an inkjet printer, use an air filter or add ventilation or put the printer in a closet or other room, if you really need to print.

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Question from LauraB

Hi, I recently discovered that Organic Cotton seems to irritate my skin because of the oils in it. I think I do okay when it is processed a little more, but I was wondering about other MCS folks with this same problem- if they have done okay with Organic Hemp, or if they have found other fabrics such as linen work better? I live where it’s cold and I can’t wear linen pants out for a walk but I thought maybe Hemp jeans would be okay. Any thoughts? Thanks

Debra’s Answer

Readers?

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