To worry that air fresheners can cause cancer?

[Bluwilllowtree]

Okay so naturally I'm a very anxious person... I always try my best to use 'safe' alternatives to chemicals (e.g white vinegar) as I'm so worried about chemicals and carcinogenics, but having 2 young dc and 2 indoor cats my house doesn't always smell of roses even though I'm constantly cleaning and opening my Windows. Aibu in how much I'm worrying about the chemicals in plug in airfreshers? Would they really sell them if they were that dangerous? Am I just being over cautious?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Watch what you breathe

There are certain things that should be avoided if possible to reduce COPD symptoms and the chances of a flare-up, including:
dusty places
fumes, such as car exhausts
smoke
air freshener sprays or plug-ins
strong-smelling cleaning products (unless there's plenty of ventilation)
hairspray
perfume

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/Pages/living-with.aspx

I have developed a lung condition and can no longer tolerate spraying perfume or certain air fresheners. They are horrible for your respiratory system.

I don't know about cancer, but if you are concerned about your health and want to use an air fresheners there are lots of essential oil burners and diffusers out there. I am about to purchase one myself so I can enjoy having fun with scents again.

I also look for roll-on perfumes and splash-on colognes. I love wear perfume but can't bear anything sprayed in the air as I breathe it in.

Plug in stinkers, that's a good one, I will be referring to them as that in future!

The thing about them being chemicals, and how everything is a chemical. I know that, but I'm not aware that there have been any long term studies on the effects of breathing in air freshener chemicals day after day, year after year. Or have there? Does anyone know?

Re underarm deodorant, I'm assuming the piles comment was a joke, but it's not long ago that we discovered that deodorants were playing a large part in destroying the ozone layer. Is it really that big a stretch to imagine that the long term use of plug ins may also have an effect that hasn't surfaced yet?

I remember way back in the 1980s when people used to laugh about people's concerns about transfats. Now they are banned!

Yanbu.
Many air fresheners, and many other household products, contain chemicals which are dubious to day the least. Methylisothiazolinone for example, used in more or less everything, has just been banned in leave-on cosmetic products. Just because something is sold in shops doesn't mean it's safe! Think of BPA which was considered safe and even used in baby bottles until not long ago. Some of the chemicals used nowadays will be banned in future, some will be found to be safe, you just don't know which ones. (the people who say "chemicals are everywhere, water is a chemical too, why are you scared of chemicals?" are completely missing the point and just displaying their own ignorance.)

I wouldn't use normal scenes candles either though, as the perfumes are similar to the ones in air fresheners. Get organic scented candles, essential oils or just don't use anything.

Yuck plug in stinkers is a great name for them! They are vile. I have scented candles or even a plain candle will get rid of cooking smells. Also have reed diffusers.
Might look into organic candles.

Thank you so much for all your replies! And all the helpful advice and alternative things I can use too :) I was worried I was just being abit of a flower about it. I know there's chemicals in everything but I mean dangerous chemicals that could cause harm to us. I do love reed diffusers (especially next ones!) But my paranoia kicks in with those too!?

Mistified as to why your house smells if you clean and open windows?I clean only as necessary,also have cats(with litter trays ATM).The only room that smells figgy is DDs and opening the window sorts that.
No to smelly expensive plug ins.

It wasn't deodorant per se that was damaging the ozone layer. It was the C f c ( too long a name to struggle with on a tablet) that was the problem. Aerosol propellant, refrigerant and other applications. They were banned.

Make sure you get all the science. Half arsed science makes paltrow!

How about some old-skool pomanders?

www.ashleigh-burwood.co.uk/the-scented-home-scented-metal-pomanders.html

I never use airfreshners of any kind.

I just have a clean, aired house.

What cat litters do you use? Some are better than others re smell. I used to use the wood ones as I found them the best. You could experiment a bit.

Also, make sure they are being changed/scooped as frequently as you can manage. Can the litter trays be moved to a utility room with window left open a crack so there is always airflow?

I used to have indoor cats so I know what you mean.

My house always smells of cooking. I work from home and often have 3 x meals daily.

Do you have carpets, OP? Get some bicarbonate of soda (Wilko sells it cheap) and sprinkle it liberally on the carpets and leave over night. Hoover in the morning, and you should smell a difference. The bicarb absorbs smells.

Also, and I know it's not easy, accept that your house smells. We are conditioned to think that our houses should smell of room fragrance at all times.

How did a whole generation get socialised into believing that Chemical Rose is a pleasant smell?

Air 'fresheners' do indeed contain some harmful chemicals including formaldehyde, benzene and styrene which are carcinogens.

They also exacerbate pre-existing conditions like asthma and copd. They have those industrial strength ones in my place of work and they make me feel ill and cause sinusitis, nausea, dizziness and headache. Also, sore, red eyes. Something that causes even these symptoms alone is obviously harmful.

I honestly can't understand why people use them and I believe that their use will be outlawed in a few years, particularly in public spaces.

There are lots of alternatives to freshening a space and you can buy air filtration units for household use. I use one in my teen's bedroom. The rest of the house just gets aired every day and I use hot water and method spray to clean.

All houses have a bit of a smell which reflects who lives there and their lifestyle and that's okay. Who decreed that everyday living smells are so bad anyway. As long as it's not that teen bedroom smell, who honestly cares?

Air quality and health trumps everything as far as I'm concerned.

Scented oil burners are the best.

How did a whole generation get socialised into believing that Chemical Rose is a pleasant smell

By extremely persuasive and powerful company advertising.

The same culture that makes people believe that they have to spend a fortune on coffee every time they leave the house.

Or that they 'don't like water' so must buy lots of flavoured drinks. That they need a snack at any given opportunity.

That cooking is boring, expensive, difficult and old fashioned so they must spent lots of money on eating out, takeaways, prepared lunches.

That toilet paper is no longer enough and you must use moist wipes to feel 'fresh'.

That it is normal to pay lots of money to have all your body hair ripped out, make your eyebrows look like they have been drawn on with marker pen and never leave the house without being covered in lots of expensive lotions, primers and cosmetics.

That you must have a new phone every 2 years and that the phone is 'free' because no-one is capable of working out that £40 a month costs a lot more than £10 a month plus £400 for a phone every 2 years.

That you 'deserve it' when 'it' involves spending money on a load of crap you don't need.

Good post Barbara :)

I'm allergic to air fresheners. I use house plants, frequently opening the windows, keeping the cat litter regularly cleaned and putting down baking soda for a few hours on anything I can't get the smell out of after cleaning, then hoovering it up. It's great for absorbing smells. I believe you can also use charcoal blocks to get rid of smells from fridges or cupboards.

I find nice plants placed near open windows works best though, as it wafts the smell in. Just don't accidentally get jasmine and spend half a day trying to find where the cat has peed only to discover it's the plant.

Or you could just frequently make bread.

I worked alongside an environmental lawyer last year.
She lobbied to get air fresheners removed from the ladies loo because they were a health risk to staff.

Cancer causing chemical in air fresheners (and a lot of other stuff) is PFOS/ PFOA. (Abbreviation of chemical formula).

There are class actions in USA related to this.

I would get rid of air fresheners. They are a cancer risk - to self and probably to your cats.

Scented candles aren't great for you either. Same goes for cleaning materials, reed diffusers and air fresheners. Google limonene, it's a chemical in a lot of scented products, and turns in to formaldehyde when exposed to ozone.

Having plenty of plants in the house will help purify the air if your cats don't eat plants like mine do. Let air flow by opening windows to freshen up the house. (Lock your cats upstairs to air through the downstairs, and then reverse).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35281338

It wasn't deodorant per se that was damaging the ozone layer. It was the C f c ( too long a name to struggle with on a tablet) that was the problem. Aerosol propellant, refrigerant and other applications. They were banned.

I know that, I just couldn't be arsed typing it all out on my phone. I just assumed everyone knew that. I know, I know, never assume...

Here's another thing to get anxious about (I do!) - when you blow out candles, the smoke is quite bad for you! So open a window for a few minutes after you have blown out your candles in your essential oil burner, and use a candle extinguisher rather than blowing out the flame.

big fat no to air fresheners from me. I agree they will likely be banned soon.

If people are looking for other household stuff to worry about then try lead paint. Most people are aware that you shouldn't have lead paint on baby furniture, but there is also all your doors, skirtingboards, window sills and banisters to worry about. Okay if the paint is in fantastic nick, but if its flaky and you have small kids or pets then get it tested for lead.