Sweet Smells May Spell Danger

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                Air fresheners can cause cancer. That was the conclusion many people might have drawn from a US Environmental Protection Agency study that was published in Environmental Science & Technology.

The researchers first plugged in four electrical-outlet-powered air fresheners in a closed room. They then turned on an ozone generator to test how chemicals commonly used in air fresheners, such as pinene and limonene, react with ozone, which is produced at ground level when car exhaust emissions react with sunlight.

                Result: Formaldehyde-which has been shown to bring on cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans-as well as related compounds that may cause breathing problems were formed.

                The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) was quick to put the kibosh on the media frenzy before it could get off the ground. A lengthy press release made it clear that the extreme and artificial conditions in which these products were tested “was not intended to represent consumer use of air fresheners, nor does it do so.” When used according to label instructions in real-life situations, the products are completely safe, the CSPA concluded.

HOW SWEET IT ISN’T

                The study may have set off a false alarm, but it also raised an important issue about the air quality in our homes and how quickly we are willing to compromise it to have the sweet-smelling houses the commercials claim we need. “People don’t understand that all the fragrance and products we used in our homes create a chemical soap,” says Jeffrey C. May, principal, may indoor air investigations LLC in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “If you have asthma, allergies or are sensitive to chemicals, it can be a real health concern.”

                Even aromatic candles, like tea lights or the poured-wax jar varieties, have come under fire in recent years. “Those jar candles are enormous soot factories. Just look at how black the rims are,” says May, who also does home inspections. “Millions of dollars have been spent repainting houses and redoing carpets to get rid of candle soot. It’s an enormous problem.”

                Also on the offending list: Incense, which releases particulate matter as well as benzene and carbon monoxide, two dangerous gases, into the air… and spray fresheners, which experts argue expose your lungs to more unnecessary chemicals.

                One solution is simply to live in a fragrance-free home. But pet owners, fish eaters and those with smelly shoes may argue otherwise. Some natural alternatives for those who need to clear the air…

·         Remove the moisture.  “Excess moisture encourages microbial growth and really makes a house smell bad,” says May. “Keep your house clean and the relative humidity down and you won’t need air fresheners.”

·         Simmer some sweet stuff.  One safe way to make your house smell good enough to eat is the old real estate trick of simmering orange peels and warm spices, such as cinnamon or cloves, in a pot of water on the stove.

·         Burn beeswax. If you’re a candle junkie, burn beeswax. It’s cleaner than those made with paraffin or petroleum products. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic church legislated the use of pure beeswax candles in churches because they didn’t damage the interior and artwork. They’re also naturally colored and scented.

A clean, welcoming home – yes. What you don’t want is an artificially clean, welcoming home. The façade is not worth the price or the risk.

References:

Jeffrey C. May, author of My House Is Killing Me! The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma (Johns Hopkins University), and principal, May InDoor Air Investigations LLC, Cambridge, MA.