**So Long, Air Freshener!**

As a pet owner and a clean home enthusiast, I use air freshener's daily. I will be re-thinking my cleaning habits. This article was on MSN a couple of days ago...

Ask Dr. Weil: Air Fresheners
Are they bad for my health?
By Andrew Weil, M.D., Prevention

Q: I use air fresheners in my home, but have been told I shouldn't. Are they bad for my health?

A: It certainly looks like they are. Recent research strongly suggests that they raise your risk of a number of pulmonary diseases. Last year researchers found that being exposed to chemicals from air fresheners as little as once a week may increase your odds of developing asthma symptoms by 71 percent. And a 2006 study showed that people with high blood levels of the chemical 1,4 dichlorobenzene—commonly found in air fresheners—were more likely to experience a decline in lung function.

Other studies point to a cancer link. University of California, Berkeley, researchers determined that, when used in small, poorly ventilated rooms, some air fresheners emit pollutants that create high levels of formaldehyde, a carcinogen shown to cause cancer in animals and respiratory irritation in humans.

Last year, the Natural Resources Defense Council evaluated 14 air fresheners, 12 of which had varying amounts of phthalates, chemicals that may affect fertility, cause cancer, and trigger developmental abnormalities in infants. The NRDC and other environmental groups filed a petition calling for all air freshener-related products to be tested for consumer safety and regulated by the government.

Read this full article here

I also found this article:

A second report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Sept 2007 tested 14 brands of common household air fresheners. They found that most scented sprays, gels and plug-in fresheners offer no public health benefits yet contain harmful chemicals. Twelve of the products tested contained phthalates, despite their “all-natural” and “unscented” label. But phthalates were not even listed as ingredients.

The NRDC air freshener hit list:

Highest levels of phthalates:
· Walgreens Air Freshener Spray (removed from shelves)
· Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Fresheners (removed from shelves)
· Walgreens Solid Air Fresheners (removed from shelves)
· Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer
Medium levels of phthalates:
· Air Wick Scented Oil
· Febreze NOTICEables Scented Oil
· Glade Air Infusions
· Glade PlugIn Scented Oil
· Oust Air Sanitizer Spray
Low levels or no phthalates detected:
· Citrus Magic
· Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher
· Lysol Brand II Disinfectant
· Oust Fan Liquid Refills
· Renuzit Subtle Effects

And another one, focused on children:

Asthma In Children Linked To Cleaning Products And Air Freshener Use During Pregnancy
Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health; Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 13 Mar 2008 - 5:00 PDT

"Expectant mothers who use a lot of household cleaning products may increase the risk of their child developing asthma", the Daily Mail reports. The article says that researchers claim to have found a link between wheezing and asthma in young children, and their mothers' use of cleaning products such as bleach and air freshener during pregnancy, or shortly after birth. The study found that mothers increased the risk of their child developing persistent wheezing by the age of seven by up to 41%.

Read the full article here