Febreze is one of the most common products used in the home in an effort to cover up odors. It provides a temporary solution for household odors, but is the use of Febreze really safe?
According to Care2 the Environmental Working Group (EWG)—an American-based non-profit that advocates for health protection— a whopping 87 chemicals were found in Febreze that pose major health effects for people and pets. (source)
Some of these harmful chemicals and their effects include:
BHT—a known neurotoxin (substance that is toxic to the brain and nervous system), a hormone disruptor, immune system toxin, and irritant to the skin, eyes, and lungs.
Acetaldehyde—a known carcinogen (causes cancer) that has reproductive and development effects (yes, that means it can damage a fetus), immune system toxin, and irritant to the skin, eyes, and lungs.
Fragrance—This is one of the three disclosed ingredients. However, on its own, it can contain up to 400 ingredients, most of which are petrochemicals. Clinical observation by medical doctors has found that exposure to fragrances can damage the central nervous system and cause depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, behavioral damages, headaches, dizziness, rashes, hyper-pigmentation, vomiting, coughing, and skin irritation. A shocking 95% of the chemicals used as "fragrance" come from petroleum! According to the research of Julia Kendall (available at www.ehnca.org), the most common chemicals in fragrances are ethanol, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, a-pinene, acetone, benzyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, linalook, a-terpinene, methylene chloride, and a-terpineol. You'll see that numerous of these ingredients were found in Febreze.
Propylene Glycol—also a known carcinogen, propylene glycol is toxic to the immune system, is linked to allergies, accumulates in the body and irritates the skin, eyes, and lungs
1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol—causes cancer
Limonene—allergen, immune system toxin and skin, lungs, and eye irritant
Methyl pyrrolidone—Reproductive system toxin linked to birth defects, allergies, immune system toxicity, and skin, eyes, and lung irritation
And those listed above make up only 7 of the 87 harmful chemicals found in Febreze!
Before you use Febreze or any other odor masking harmful chemicals, ask yourself if you want to put your health, the health of a loved one, your pets, or visitors in jeopardy by continuing to use air fresheners, candles, and other temporary solutions that only mask odors for a short period of time and may be harmful.
A chemical free Ozone Treatment of your home by Gator Clean provides you with a completely toxin free home from top to bottom without the risk posed by harmful chemicals found in products like Febreze. Contact us today for your free estimate and begin saving money and breathing easier today.
