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Beware the Fresh Air

WHEN ODORS OFFEND, WE OFTEN REACH FOR AIR FRESHENERS.  BUT DANGEROUS CHEMICALS MAY LURK IN THESE FLOWERY FRAGRANCES, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON TODAY'S ENVIRONMINUTE.

WITH FULL INGREDIENT REPORTING NOT REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AIR FRESHENERS FLY UNDER THE REGULATORY RADAR.  YET A RECENT STUDY BY THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL FOUND THAT SOME OF THEM CONTAIN HORMONE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS CALLED PHTHALATES.

THE LEVELS FOUND WERE LOW. BUT GINA SOLOMON, A SENIOR SCIENTIST FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, SAYS CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ARE A POTENTIAL CONCERN.

SOLOMON: PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO PHTHALATES FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOURCES IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. THE LEVELS CAN ADD UP, IF YOU'RE GETTING THE SAME THING IN YOUR NAIL POLISH, YOUR PERFUME, YOUR AIR FRESHENER, AND YOUR BODY LOTION.

TO STOP STINKS WITHOUT SCENTED SPRAYS, SIMPLY OPEN A WINDOW OR SNUFF OUT SMELLS AT THE SOURCE.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more from the NRDC.