KPLU Local News
(2010-11-01)
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Fragrances in household products, such as hand soap and other cleansers, are under scrutiny from a University of Washington researcher.
AP photo.
A University of Washington researcher is adding fuel to a heated debate over chemicals in common products such as soaps, lotions, and cleaning supplies. New research has found trace amounts of chemicals that might be toxic, although no health risk has been demonstrated.
The research started when Anne Steinemann was investigating "sick building" syndrome, where people are apparently sickened by chemicals emitted inside homes and offices:
"I had literally hundreds of people calling me and telling me how they were getting sick from common fragrance products," she says. "They reported headaches, breathing difficulties, dizziness from exposure to these everyday products."
The challenge she found is many ingredients are either not listed on the label or buried under vague terms like "fragrances." Steinemann is a civil engineer by training, but she's been teaming up with air pollution experts. They analyzed 25 popular products, ranging from laundry and dish soaps, to shampoos, to air fresheners. They put a spoonful-sized sample of each product inside a glass flask, and sealed each flask.
What was off-gassed? In total, 24 different unlabeled chemicals that might be hazardous. These are known as "volatile organic compounds," the sort of thing that's in paints and dry cleaning chemicals.
Miniscule amounts -- still a problem?
The chemicals are only detected at miniscule amounts -- and there are no studies showing health risks at those levels. Many substances can be safe at a low enough dosage level, but dangerous at higher doses. Still, Steinemann says she suspects anything that has added fragrance is a potential problem.
"Low level exposures add up," she says. "So, they may only be parts per million or parts per billion, but we are exposed to these things regularly in different forms." Steinemann says she persuaded the University of Washington to replace all the hand-soap in campus bathrooms with an un-scented variety.
The fragrance industry provided a written response to the research, saying it thoroughly tests its products, to ensure safety for consumers, and disputes that there are any risks at all. "[A] small number of individuals may experience sensitivity to certain materials in the environment, both natural and man-made," says the International Fragrance Association.
Some environmental groups are urging Congress to require full disclosure on product labels and more testing.
The research is published in the journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review.
For More Information:
Anne Steinemann's research page, including a link to her latest study.
Statement from the International Fragrance Association.
A popular ranking of personal products (does not include the type of off-gassing discussed above, and no endorsement implied).
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