In the world of college, where laundry days are infrequent and the trash slowly piles up, students can always count on trusty air fresheners to disguise odors.
However, according to a recent study, students may want to think twice before they spray. In an analysis of more than a dozen common household air fresheners, almost all contained dangerous hormone-altering chemicals called phthalates, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC.)
"Last summer, our team of scientists pulled a wide variety of air fresheners off the shelves and tested their hypothesis," Jenny Powers, NRDC spokesperson, said.
In the study, released at the end of last month, researchers looked at 14 different air freshener brands, ranging from aerosol sprays to solids and liquids that emit a continuous scent. Among the products that tested positive for phthalates were those marketed "all-natural" and "unscented," yet of those tested, only two were entirely free of phthalates -- Febreze Air Effects and Renuzit Subtle Effects, according to a NRDC press release.
While most of the fresheners only contained trace amounts of the chemical, those containing the highest phthalate content included Walgreens Air Freshener, Walgreens Scented Bouquet and Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer. The Walgreens Scented Bouquet, in particular, topped the charts with 7,300 parts per million of di-ethyl phthalates (DEP), the phthalate most closely associated with changes in hormone levels and reproductive development, according to the press release.
Last month, Walgreens issued a quick response to the findings and pulled its air fresheners from the shelves, stating its plans to conduct an independent study into the inquiry.
In addition, the NRDC petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to look more in depth into the dangers phthalates pose in air fresheners.
EPA spokesperson Melissa Ansley-Mills said in an email the EPA does not currently regulate indoor air and has no current plans to investigate phthalates in air fresheners.
According to Powers, There are currently no ingredients listed on the air fresheners' product labels, no matter the brand. This means consumers have no way of knowing if the product contains phthalates, Powers said. She added that even when a product does contain an ingredient label, the chemical is still excluded.
Seth Koegler (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said he does not use air fresheners, but after hearing about the chemicals he is even more turned off by the use of the products.
He called the act of not accurately labeling products a "shady business practice."
Katherine Huntington (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), a Febreze user, agreed.
"It's deceiving," she said.
"Most people wouldn't even think to consider there are harmful effects in using air fresheners."
Powers said the most important issues the study exposes are the flaws in a system meant to protect consumers from these kinds of problems.
"Right now, companies are not even required to test for the chemical -- that is what consumers need to be aware of," she said. "Why isn't our government taking a closer look at proper labeling?"
The best way for consumers to guard themselves against these chemicals is to diminish exposure and be selective in making a purchase, Powers said.
"Air fresheners are only masking the problem, not solving it," she added.
