Air Fresheners Could Damage Your Lungs: Study

It’s ironic that something you buy to clean the air is actually poisoning it.

A recent study in the United States suggests that air fresheners could affect your short-term lung capacity and may cause even worse damage.

The products contain an organic chemical called dichlorobenzene, specifically 1,4 DCB, that researchers at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health say makes it a little harder for you to breathe.

There have been previous studies that suggest a child’s risk of developing asthma rises as their exposure to 1,4 DCB increases.

They may make your home smell like summer berries or a spring breeze, but air fresheners are a little deceiving if you consider this key ingredient – 1,4 DCB is also found in urinal deodorizers, cigarette smoke, and moth balls.

It can be hard to know which products contain the chemical because manufacturers aren’t required to list it on the label, but you can bet that it’s probably in cake-type air fresheners, especially those used for toilets, and mothballs.

The recent study on 1,4 DCB was published in Environmental Health Perspectives and claims the chemical causes reduced lung function.

Researchers followed 953 Americans for six years and found that the 10 percent who had the highest levels of the chemical in their blood did four percent worse on lung function tests than the people with the lowest concentration of the volatile organic compound.

Researchers also found that 96 percent of the study participants had some level of 1,4 DCB in their bloodstream.

While a four percent reduction may not seem like a big deal, experts say it’s still cause for concern as even a small reduction in lung capacity may indicate that some harm has been done to the respiratory organs.

Charlene Rogers is very sensitive to chemical scents and is breathing much easier now that she’s cut them out of her life.

“I don’t use fabric softeners, I don’t use air fresheners, I don’t use carpet cleaners,” she said. “I feel better because I’m not smelling these things all the time, and I also feel better because I’m doing better things for the environment.”

If you’re looking for a natural air freshener throw some cinnamon sticks and cloves into some water and simmer them on the stove.

What Are Dichlorobenzenes?

There are three types, which include 1,2 DCB, 1,3 and 1,4.

1,2 and 1,3 are liquids at room temperature, while 1,4 – the one commonly used in air fresheners, is a solid.

How And Where Am I Exposed To Them?

Exposure usually occurs from breathing in indoor air or workplace air. You may be breathing in the fumes from air fresheners, mothballs or toilet deodorizers. High levels of 1,2 and 1,4 DCB can irritate the eyes, make it difficult to breathe and can make your stomach upset.

Do They Cause Cancer?

Experts have just stopped short of classifying 1,4 DCB as a carcinogen. There’s been no direct link made between 1,4 DCB and cancer in humans, but exposure to the compound caused kidney and liver cancer in animals.

Other Health Effects.

Dichlorobenzenes have a similar effect on children as they do on adults, and the exposure can begin at a very young age – all three types, or isomers, have been found in placenta samples and in breast milk.

How Can I Reduce Exposure To Dichlorobenzenes?

Store products that contain 1,4 DCB – cleaners, air fresheners – out of children’s reach.

Information courtesy of Health Canada and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (U.S.).