Air freshener
1082976
224451416
2008-07-08T22:09:11Z
78.149.243.37
'''Air fresheners''' are [[consumer product]]s that mitigate unpleasant [[odor]]s in indoor spaces. They can be in the form of [[candle]]s, [[aerosol spray]]s, [[potpourri]], [[gel]]s and mechanical or heat release products. <ref>http://science.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/air-freshener
How Products Are Made: Air Freshener</ref>
They work in one of five ways:
# Absorption: [[adsorption|Adsorbents]] like [[activated charcoal]] or [[silica gel]] may be used to absorb offending, chemical odors.
# Chemical neutralization: Substances such as [[rubber]] or [[TEG]] may be used for some odors.
# [[Disinfection]]. Odors caused by bacterial activity can be eliminated by [[disinfectants]] like [[ozone]], [[triethylene glycol|TEG]], or [[bleaching agent]]s containing [[hydrogen peroxide]], [[chlorine]] or [[hypochlorite]]s.
# Masking: Many "fresheners" obscure odors with a [[fragrance]].
# [[Anesthesia|Anesthetization]]: Some air fresheners use anesthetics to dull the sense of smell.
[[Image:Air_fresh.jpg|thumb|A basic [[gel]] [[fragrance]] air freshener.]]
==Criticism==
A [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] (NRDC) study of 13 common household air fresheners found that most of the surveyed products contain chemicals that can aggravate asthma and affect reproductive development. The NRDC called for more rigorous supervision of the manufacturers and their products, which are widely assumed to be safe:
<blockquote>"The study assessed scented sprays, gels, and plug-in air fresheners. Independent lab testing confirmed the presence of phthalates, or hormone-disrupting chemicals that may pose a particular health risk to babies and young children, in 12 of the 14 products—including those marked 'all natural.' None of the products had these chemicals listed on their labels."</blockquote>
On [[September 19]], [[2007]], the NRDC, along with the [[Sierra Club]], Alliance for Healthy Homes, and the National Center for Healthy Housing filed a petition with the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] and the [[Consumer Product Safety Commission ]] to report the findings.<ref name=enn>[http://www.enn.com/lifestyle/article/23538 Air Fresheners Unregulated, Potentially Dangerous, Group Says]</ref>
Exposure to volatile organic compounds through frequent use of air fresheners and other aerosols in the home was found to correlate with increased earaches and diarrhea in infants, and with increased depression in their mothers in a large study<ref>"Symptoms of mothers and infants related to total volatile organic compounds in household products" Arch Environ Health. 2003 Oct;58(10):633-41; PMID 15562635;
"Air fresheners can make mothers and babies ill" University of Bristol press release issued 19 October 2004</ref> reported by the University of Bristol in the [[UK]] in 2003.
==See also==
* [[Deodorant]]
* [[Little Trees]]
* [[Natural Cleaning Products]]
== References ==
<!-- To add a reference simply enclose the text you want to appear here inside
a<ref></ref> pair in the correct place in the body of the
article.-->
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.bama.co.uk/ British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8122-1317707,00.html Danger alert over air fresheners]
[[Category:Cleaning products]]
[[Category:Fragrances]]
[[he:מטהר אוויר]]
[[nl:Luchtverfrisser]]
[[ja:消臭剤]]