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Hazardous Ingredients in Air Fresheners

Many types of air fresheners have different ingredients. Some are safer than others, but almost all include hazardous ingredients of some sort. Some hazardous ingredients are much more harmful than others. One common hazardous ingredient used in air fresheners that causes mild skin and eye irritation is concentrated perfume oil. Other, more hazardous ingredients, are often found in air fresheners.

  1. Ammonium Hydroxide

    • Ammonium hydroxide contains 12 to 44 percent concentrated ammonia. It is very damaging to eyes, and causes serious permanent damage if swallowed, requiring a stomach pump to rid the body of the toxins. Most importantly as an air freshener ingredient, it is very destructive to mucous membranes when inhaled, as it typically is inhaled when sprayed in the air.

    Ortho Phenylphenol

    • Ortho phenylphenol is also found in many air fresheners and causes severe skin and eye irritation. The EPA says it is likely carcinogenic to humans, meaning it causes cancer. In studies with rats who received an oral dose of ortho phenylphenol, depression, abdominal inflation, low respiratory rate and depigmentation of hair were some of the effects. In humans, exposure of ortho phenylphenol to the skin not only caused skin irritation, but also affected the urinary bladder and the liver.

    Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbon

    • Isoparraffinic hydrocarbon is an eye and skin irritant when it comes in contact through the air. It also causes asphyxiation and narcosis when inhaled and can cause cardiac arrest and aspiration if inhalation exposure is extended. Some symptoms of narcosis are depression of the central nervous system and anesthesia. Although these effects are not typical of a low dose initial exposure, they can cause these effects to humans over extended exposure.

    Diethanolamine (DEA)

    • Diethanolamine, also known as DEA, is found in air fresheners as well as cosmetics and many household cleaners. DEA is a fragrance ingredient in air fresheners and forms carcinogenic properties when mixed with nitrate, which is often used as a preservative in household products. Because of the intellectual properties law, where all ingredients are not required to be listed so that they cannot be easily copied, DEA may not be listed on a label. The label can simply state "fragrance," which may or may not include DEA.

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