by Rebecca Walker — November 10, 2010—Widely used fragranced products, including soaps, air fresheners, sanitizers and deodorants that claim to be “green,” give off many chemicals that are not listed on the label, including some that are classified as toxic, according to a new study led by the University of Washington.
The study, reported in an article in the online journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review, discovered that 25 commonly used scented products emit an average of 17 chemicals each.
Of the 133 different chemicals detected, 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, the study found.
The study analyzed air fresheners including sprays, solids and oils; laundry products including detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets; personal care products such as soaps, hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorant and shampoos; and cleaning products including disinfectants, all-purpose sprays and dish detergent. All were widely used brands, with more than half being the top-selling product in its category.
Manufacturers are not required to disclose any ingredients in cleaning supplies, air fresheners or laundry products, all of which are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
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