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DEAR EARTHTALK: Is it true that
some ingredients in common air fresheners can cause health problems?
As part of its "Clearing the Air" study, NRDC researchers tested 14 brands of common household air fresheners and found that 12 contained chemicals known as phthalates. Only two, Febreze Air Effects and Renuzit Subtle Effects, contained no detectable levels of phthalates. Products testing positive included ones marketed as "all-natural" and "unscented." None of the brands tested listed phthalates on their labels. Phthalates are "hormone-disrupting" chemicals that can be particularly dangerous for young children and unborn babies. Like some other man-made chemicals, phthalates can affect normal hormonal processes - those that control brain, nervous and immune system development, reproduction, mental processing and metabolism - by blocking them altogether, throwing off the timing or "mimicking" natural hormones and interacting with cells themselves, with very unhealthy consequences. The State of California notes that five types of phthalates - including one commonly used in air freshener products - are "known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm." Despite these issues, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the use of phthalates or require the labeling of phthalate content on products. Other governments take the phthalate threat more seriously. The European Union forbids the most harmful phthalates in cosmetics or toys, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to soon sign similar legislation for his state.
NRDC bemoans the fact that the U.S. government does not test air fresheners
for safety or require manufacturers to meet specific health standards.
In conjunction with the study, NRDC - along with the Sierra Club, the Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing - is petitioning federal agencies to start assessing the risk air fresheners pose to consumers by testing all products now on the market. And NRDC has already begun working directly with some manufacturers to find ways to eliminate phthalates from these products. NRDC recommends that consumers be selective and purchase only air fresheners that have the least amount of phthalates. Better yet, the group suggests consumers first try to reduce household odors by tending to their root causes or improving ventilation rather than masking them. "The best way to avoid the problem is to simply open a window instead of reaching for one of these cans," concludes Solomon. CONTACTS: Natural Resources Defense Council
DEAR
EARTHTALK: Short of buying a new hybrid or other "green"
car, are there ways I can make my existing vehicle more eco-friendly?
I bought my car recently and am not quite ready to give it up. Choice of vehicle may well be the biggest factor in determining the environmental impact of your automobile-based travels. But a considerable amount of energy is used - and pollutants emitted - in the production of any new vehicle, including hybrids and other more fuel-efficient options. As a result, many environmentalists believe that practicing good driving habits and performing adequate maintenance on an older car are probably better options for the environment than causing the production of a new vehicle.
Drivers can also help minimize their environmental impact by keeping their cars well maintained. According to GreenerCars.org, getting regular tune-ups - where a qualified mechanic changes fluids and checks for and corrects problems such as worn spark plugs, under inflated tires, dragging brakes, misaligned wheels and clogged filters - can significantly improve fuel economy and minimize harmful emissions. GreenerCars.org also recommends seeking out low-rolling-resistance (LRR) replacement tires, which are specifically designed to improve a vehicle's fuel economy, when the original ones wear out. Beyond regular maintenance, a handful of small companies now sell green-friendly fuel additives that purport to increase fuel efficiency while reducing emissions. Such products - including Bluestar Environmental's Omstar D-1280X gas additive and Suntec Bio-Energy's diesel additive - are normally targeted at fleets of vehicles, but individuals are free to use them as well. Owners beware, though: Use of such products could invalidate automakers' warranties, so read the fine print in your owner's manual before pouring anything out-of-the-ordinary into your fuel tank. Of course, getting out of your car altogether - or most of the time - is a far greener choice than driving even a well-maintained new or old car conscientiously. Some employers now offer federally-subsidized "commuter choice" incentives whereby workers can derive financial benefits by telecommuting (working from home), or by walking, biking, using public transit or carpooling to and from the office. Another option is to join a car sharing service like Zipcar or Flexcar, whereby you pay a modest monthly membership fee and can then rent cars parked nearby by the hour only when needed. The companies operate on both U.S. coasts, as well as in major Midwestern and Canadian cities. CONTACTS: GreenerCars.org "Green Driving Tips"; Bluestar Environmental; Suntec Bio-Energy; Zipcar; Flexcar
DEAR
EARTHTALK: The hospital I work at doesn't recycle at all,
not even plastic bottles and cans or food service trays. I was wondering
how to get the facility to start up some kind of recycling system? Getting a large institution or corporation on board with recycling is no easy job, especially when you are starting from scratch. A good place to begin is to get permission from higher-ups to solicit bids from waste haulers and recyclers interested in new business. Such service providers can provide you with both the supplies needed to gather recyclables as well as regular weekly or daily pick-ups, depending on needs. If convincing your employer to look into recycling in the first place is a stumbling block, there are many resources available to help turn that tide. The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), a state agency dedicated to helping Ocean State businesses manage solid waste in environmentally sound ways, publishes "In the Workplace," a print and online pamphlet that outlines the steps for setting up a workplace recycling and reduction program. According to RIRRC, wannabe workplace recyclers need to start by securing organizational support and commitment and educating fellow employees about the importance of recycling. The pamphlet also includes useful tips about reducing waste altogether.
Another good resource for information on hospital recycling is the website of the nonprofit Waste Reduction Resource Center, which offers case studies detailing how several small and large health care facilities coast-to-coast have launched successful and money-saving recycling and waste reduction programs. Examples include a Vermont hospital with no budget for recycling that set up a self-sustaining, money-saving system for organics collection and composting, and a Pennsylvania hospital that now saves $150,000 a year due to the implementation of its recycling program. Those looking to reduce waste in hospitals should be sure to consult the "Plan-Do-Check-Act" section of the Sustainable Hospitals website. The summary provides useful tools for getting management approvals and enlisting the support of employees in both recycling and lowering disposable product consumption. It also has a section on how to reduce energy usage. Implementing recycling and waste reduction programs at hospitals makes sense not only for local ecology and for institutional bottom line, but also for the examples that can be set for the millions of patients and workers that pass through the health care system every day. CONTACTS: Waste Reduction Resource Center; RIRRC "In the Workplace"; "Recycling Works"; Sustainable Hospitals
© the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine, 2007
GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. |
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Air
fresheners are a $1.72 billion industry in the United
States. An estimated 75 percent of homes use them regularly. According
to a September 2007 report released by the Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), most common household air fresheners contain potentially
noxious chemicals that degrade the quality of indoor air and may even
affect hormones and reproductive development, particularly in babies.
"More
than anything, our research highlights cracks in our safety system,"
says Dr. Gina Solomon, a senior NRCD scientist. "Consumers have a right
to know what is put into air fresheners and other everyday products
they bring into their homes," she says, adding that the government should
keep a watchful eye on potentially dangerous products.
According
to the website GreenerCars.org, there are many ways to green up one's
driving habits. Obeying speed limits, utilizing cruise control and avoiding
jackrabbit starts will maximize fuel economy and minimize tailpipe emissions
while also preventing unnecessary wear-and-tear. Staying off roads during
rush hours is also advisable, as stop-and-go driving burns excess gasoline
and promotes smog. Opening vents and windows to cool off instead of
using the air conditioner, an inherently inefficient appliance that
consumes more fuel and leads to more emissions, is also good advice.
