Air Freshener Scent

All of the products air freshener used in cleaning, the use of clean smelling air fresheners seems to pose little or no risk. But the air freshener fresh scent of air fresheners may cover up not only undesirable odours, but a potential health threat as well. Chemicals called phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) which can be present in air fresheners are known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Individuals whose line of work puts them into frequent contact with these chemicals are at a greater risk of developing long term health problems simply by the nature of their occupation, for example, janitorial and cleaning staff.

An independent testing on fourteen commonly used air fresheners. They found phthalates in 86 percent (12 of 14) of air freshener products tested, including those sold as “all-natural” or “unscented”. It was noted that none of the products tested listed phthalates on their labels. The NRDC recommends that government regulators should follow up by doing more thorough tests on these products and enact basic measures to limit exposure to these chemicals, in the interest of public health. Meanwhile, it may be sensible to avoid exposure to air fresheners. Especially, avoid using air fresheners in places where pregnant women or children are known to frequent.

Malodours are generally undesirable in indoor environments. Odours themselves do not cause toxicological effects but may increase the reporting of symptoms, for example, headache, nausea, and eye and throat irritation.

Unfortunately, the rise in popularity of air fresheners has fast outgrown awareness of the potential health threats from exposure to the chemicals they may contain. Most phthalates are now understood to interfere with production of the male hormone, testosterone, and have been associated with reproductive irregularities. A variety of animal studies have tied prenatal exposure to certain phthalates with decreases in testosterone, malformations of the genitalia, and reduced sperm production. Studies on humans have show that phthalates have been associated with changes in hormone levels, poor semen quality, and changes in genital development. Five phthalates-including one found in air freshener products-are listed by the State of California as chemicals “known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm.” Phthalate exposure to a closed environment has also been linked to allergic symptoms and asthma. Since there are no labeling requirements, even so called “natural” products can contain toxic chemicals. Detection of these ingredients is virtually impossible by the people who unknowing buy these products.

Bahan Baku Dari Pengharum Ruangan

Di lapangan saat ini ada dua jenis pewangi dari segi bahan baku atau bahan dasarnya. Yaitu,

Yang Berbahanbaku dasar air

Umumnya yang berjenis ini mempunyai kesetabilan aroma atau durasi wanginya hanya singkat saja yaitu sekitar 3 hingga 5 jam. Dan yang jenis inilah yang lebih aman dan sehat bagi kita. Sehingga umumnya tidak bisa mencederai kita.

Yang Berbahanbaku dasar minyak

Umumnya pewangi yang jenis ini biasanya menggunakan beberapa bahan pelarut/cairan pembawa, atau pencampur yang di antaranya isoparafin, diethyl phtalate atau campurannya.

Jenis pewangi yang berbahan dasar minyak ini lebih tahan lama sehingga harga jualnya bisa lebih mahal.

Sementara jenis pewangi yang disemprotkan umumnya mengandung isobutane, n-butane, propane atau campurannya.

Dan untuk pewangi yang berbentuk gel dibikin dari kandungan berbahan gum. Adapun zat aktif aroma bentuk ini umumnya berupa campuran zat pewangi, seperti limonene, benzyl acetate, linalool, citronellol, ocimene, dan lain-lainnya.

Umumnya pada dasarnya semua zat pewangi tadi berisiko terhadap kesehatan. Utamanya pada mereka-mereka yang kondisinya rentan, contohnya :

• ibu hamil,
• bayi, dan
• anak, ataupun
• orang yang sangat sensitif ataupun alergi terhadap zat-zat pewangi.

Namun sayang, ada sekitar 80% zat pewangi belum teruji keamanannya terhadap manusia. Untuk itu sekarang maka diwajibkan bagi kita untuk lebih waspada dalam memilih. Ada pun pewangi yang sudah dilarang The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) adalah di antaranya pewangi yang mengandung :

• musk ambrette,
• geranyl nitrile, dan
• 7-methyl coumarin.

Sedangkan yang berbentuk gel dilarang bila mengandung zat-zat pengawet yang berbahaya bagi kesehatan, seperti :

• formaldehyde
• methylchloroisothiozilinone.

Jadi, tidak semua pewangi memberi efek negatif bagi kesehatan. Artinya, kita masih bisa menggunakan pewangi yang beredar di pasaran.