- Jul 19, 2006
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/...9_toxicfragrance23.htm
Is this even something that's lawsuit worthy? Perhaps if they knew it was toxic, but that would take some investigation I assume. Anyways, thoughts?
Just when you were close to thinking everything is toxic.... you were probably close. I find this disturbing that the things we have used to make things smell clean and actually clean are toxic. How does something like this go unnoticed for so long? How can we even know anymore what is toxic and what isn't if it smells lemony fresh? Apparently this applies to a wide variety of fragrant's in products as well. That bit I bolded should be looked at again by someone to make them report things like this.The scented fabric sheet makes your shirts and socks smell flowery fresh and clean. That plug-in air freshener fills your home with inviting fragrances of apple and cinnamon or a country garden.
But those common household items are potentially exposing your family and friends to dangerous chemicals, a University of Washington study has found.
Trouble is, you have no way of knowing it. Manufacturers of detergents, laundry sheets and air fresheners aren't required to list all of their ingredients on their labels -- or anywhere else. Laws protecting people from indoor air pollution from consumer products are limited.
When UW engineering professor Anne Steinemann analyzed of some of these popular items, she found 100 different volatile organic compounds measuring 300 parts per billion or more -- some of which can be cancerous or cause harm to respiratory, reproductive, neurological and other organ systems.
Some of the chemicals are categorized as hazardous or toxic by federal regulatory agencies. But the labels tell a different story, naming only innocuous-sounding "perfume" or "biodegradable" contents.
"Consumers are breathing these chemicals," she said. "No one is doing anything about it."
Industry representatives say that isn't so.
"Dr. Steinemann's statement is misleading and disingenuous," said Chris Cathcart, president of the Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Specialty Products Association, in a statement.
"Air fresheners, laundry products and other consumer specialty products are regulated under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and subsequently have strict labeling requirements," he said. "Companies producing products that are regulated under FHSA must name on the product label each component that contributes to the hazard."
Is this even something that's lawsuit worthy? Perhaps if they knew it was toxic, but that would take some investigation I assume. Anyways, thoughts?