Are Automatic Air Fresheners Bad For You?

Automatic air fresheners have become a popular way to keep indoor air smelling fresh and pleasant. But are these automatic fragrance dispensers actually safe for our health and the environment? Let's examine how air fresheners work, what harmful chemicals they can contain, and the potential health and environmental risks of using automatic air freshening products.

Contents

How Do Automatic Air Fresheners Work?

Automatic air fresheners release fragrance at regular preset intervals, either using a timer or motion sensor. There are a few different types of automatic air freshener dispensers:

Aerosol sprays - These air fresheners contain perfume fragrance mixed with propellants like butane and propane in a pressurized can. At timed intervals, the automatic dispenser releases a quick spray of the scented chemical mixture into the air.
Evaporative systems - Some air fresheners use a wick or gel packs that are infused with fragrance oils. A small electric fan blows air over the wick or gel, evaporating the scent into the surrounding air at regular intervals.
Mist dispensers - These dispensers create a fine mist of water and fragrance at preset times, dispersing tiny droplets of scented liquid into the air.

No matter the delivery method, automatic air fresheners work by dispensing fragrance chemicals into the indoor air at regular intervals. They mask odors rather than eliminating the source of smells. The fragrances and other chemical ingredients will vary based on the type of air freshener.

Potential Health Risks of Air Fresheners

While air fresheners may leave rooms smelling floral or pine fresh, they introduce chemicals into our living spaces that can negatively impact health. Some potential health risks of air freshener exposure include:

Respiratory irritation - The chemicals in air fresheners can irritate the nasal passages, sinuses, and throat, especially for those with allergies or respiratory conditions like asthma. Air fresheners have been linked to aggravated asthma attacks in multiple studies.
Allergic reactions - The synthetic fragrances, phthalates, and other chemicals in air fresheners can trigger headaches, breathing problems, and allergic reactions in some people, especially those with fragrance sensitivities or chemical intolerances.
Endocrine disruption - Chemicals called phthalates, common in air fresheners, are known endocrine disruptors that interfere with hormone function and development, raising the risk of reproductive damage and birth defects.
Toxic exposure - In small, enclosed indoor environments with poor ventilation, the cumulative effects of inhaling air freshener chemicals can potentially reach toxic levels and harm health. This risk is heightened the more frequently air fresheners dispense chemicals.
Harmful effects - More vulnerable populations like young children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses face greater risks from air freshener chemical exposure and its harmful health effects.

Using automatic air fresheners means people are exposed to these health risks on a regular basis in their own homes, as the devices dispense chemicals at frequent preset intervals regardless of whether freshening is needed.

Harmful Chemicals Found in Air Fresheners

Air fresheners contain a complex mix of chemical ingredients, many of which can be harmful to human health. Some of the most dangerous chemicals frequently found in air fresheners include:

Phthalates - Phthalates like diethyl phthalate (DEP) are commonly used in air fresheners to help fragrance linger in the air. They are known endocrine disruptors and have been linked to developmental and reproductive damage.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - VOCs like limonene (used for citrus scents) can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. When combined with ozone, VOCs also produce harmful secondary pollutants.
Formaldehyde - A known human carcinogen, formaldehyde is sometimes used as a preservative in gel air fresheners or released from other ingredients as a byproduct. Exposure has been linked to cancer, asthma and difficulty breathing.
Ethylene glycol - This chemical found in some air freshener mists is extremely toxic when inhaled and can affect the central nervous system, lungs and heart.
Artificial fragrances - The specific chemicals used for fake scents are rarely disclosed but can contain phthalates, VOCs and other hazardous substances. The fragrances themselves can trigger headaches, asthma attacks and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Automatic dispensers worsen the health risks of these harmful chemicals, since they continually dispense chemicals into living spaces regardless of whether freshening is needed. The dose and concentration of chemicals builds up over time.

How Automatic Dispensers May Worsen Risks

While any air freshener poses some health risks, automatic dispensers may make the risks even higher in a few key ways:

Over-dispensing - Automatic systems dispense air freshener chemicals at fixed intervals whether the room actually needs freshening or not. This can lead to overuse and higher concentrations of chemicals building up.
Dispenses without people present - Many automatic dispensers will release chemicals on their timed schedule even if no one is in the room to provide ventilation by opening windows.
Difficult to control dose - With automatic systems, it can be hard to control exactly how much air freshener is dispensed throughout the day. More is not always better when it comes to chemical exposure.
Constant exposure - Automatic dispensers means constant replenishment of chemicals in the air, increasing chronic exposure to potentially hazardous substances.
Masks musty odors - By merely masking odors, automatic fresheners allow mold or mildew issues to go undetected and worsen.

Using air fresheners on occasion is likely less risky than having an automated dispenser continually pumping chemicals into the air multiple times per day, every day, regardless of whether fresh fragrance is needed.

Impact on Indoor Air Quality

Given all the volatile chemicals air fresheners contain, they can significantly degrade the quality of air in enclosed indoor environments. Some impacts include:

Introducing new pollutants - Air fresheners put additional chemicals and particles into the air in spaces that are already sealed off from fresh outdoor air. This increases the levels of pollutants people are breathing.
Secondary pollutants - The propellants and chemicals in air fresheners can react with other compounds present indoors, producing dangerous ozone, formaldehyde, acetone and other secondary pollutants not originally in the air freshener.
Aggravating health conditions - Reduced indoor air quality and increased contaminants aggravate asthma, allergies, COPD and other respiratory diseases. These conditions are already exacerbated by poor ventilation common in modern airtight buildings.
Harming vulnerable groups - Indoor air pollution has the most severe effects on young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses − the very groups who spend the most time indoors.

Regular use of automated air freshening systems further degrades indoor air by frequently pumping in chemicals and fragrances regardless of ventilation or actual need for odor control.

Environmental Effects and Risks

In additional to effects on human health, air fresheners also pose a number of environmental risks:

Releasing VOCs - The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air fresheners escape into the outdoor air and can react in sunlight to produce ground-level ozone, which contributes to smog formation.
Stratospheric ozone depletion - Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants were phased out of air fresheners, but many still contain related hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that deplete the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere when released.
Toxic contamination - Air freshener chemicals like phthalates and VOC propellants get into environmental systems like waterways and soil, accumulating to potentially toxic levels that affect wildlife and ecosystems.
Plastic waste - Many air freshener products are made of plastic or packaged in plastic, which increases plastic pollution and waste sent to landfills. New plastic is also created for each disposable product.

The regular release of these environmentally harmful contents from automated air fresheners in households, businesses, and public bathrooms multiplies their ecological impacts. The chemicals ultimately end up both indoors and outdoors through ventilation systems.

Alternatives to Automatic Air Fresheners

To avoid the health and environmental risks of automatic air fresheners, there are a number of methods and products that can help keep indoor air fresh:

Ventilation - Improving natural ventilation by opening windows regularly helps fresh outdoor air circulate through a space. Ventilating kitchens, bathrooms and anywhere odors originate is key.
Cleanliness - Eliminating trash, dirty dishes, mold and spills promptly at the source helps prevent odors rather than merely covering them up.
Baking soda - Leaving containers of baking soda around the house absorbs odors naturally without adding chemicals to the air.
Activated charcoal - Charcoal filters absorb and neutralize odors from the air without any added fragrance.
Houseplants - Some indoor plants like Snake Plants, Areca Palms and English Ivy naturally purify air of certain toxins and odors.
Fragrance-free products - Choosing unscented laundry detergent, cleaners and toiletries avoids adding synthetic scented chemicals into the indoor environment.
Natural air fresheners - Beeswax candles, essential oil diffusers or reed diffusers can add mild natural fragrance without synthetic chemicals in artificial scents.

These methods focus on genuine air purification and odor elimination rather than just perfuming the air with potentially hazardous chemicals. They also avoid plastic waste compared to disposable air fresheners.

When Air Fresheners May Be Acceptable

Given all the risks, air fresheners including automatic dispensers are best avoided entirely especially around infants and young children. However, there are some circumstances when their use may be acceptable in limited dosages:

Temporary strong odors - Occasional use around strong temporary odors like smoke, pets or cooking may be understandable if ventilation can't completely eliminate the smell. However, the underlying cause of the smell should still be remedied.
Minimal use - Air fresheners should only be used for spot treatments minimally when truly needed, rather than constant dispensing. Frequent use in small spaces with poor ventilation should especially be avoided.
Safer ingredients - If air fresheners are used, choose ones with safer ingredients like essential oils and without phthalates, VOCs or propellants. But even "natural" scents can still trigger asthma and allergies.
Spot treatment - Dispense manually in problem odor areas instead of filling an entire room. Automatic dispensers are indiscriminate regarding when and where they freshen.
Common sense - Never spray air fresheners of any kind near faces, especially of infants, children and the elderly. And use sparingly around pregnant women. Open windows, leave the area promptly after dispensing and don't overdo it.

Ultimately, it's best to rely on genuine air purification methods as much as possible for fresh indoor air, turning to air fresheners as an occasional last resort rather than an ongoing automated function.

Conclusion

Automatic air fresheners promise a constant scent of clean freshness with just the press of a button. But in delivering that rosy fragrance, they also pump a steady stream of potentially hazardous volatile chemicals into indoor air while creating plastic pollution and other environmental problems.

The health risks of cumulative exposure to air freshener chemicals is heightened when dispensed automatically at regular intervals regardless of need. Alternatives like fresh air, cleanliness and plants offer genuine air purification without health concerns. While air fresheners shouldn’t necessarily be demonized, their risks mean they require judicious use. An automatic dispenser constantly perfuming your indoor air is like having a chimney puff chemicals into your home every few minutes. Essential oils,opening a window and cleaning up odors at their source are healthier choices for yourself and the planet.

FAQ About Air Fresheners

Are plug-in air fresheners as bad as sprays?

Plug-in air fresheners pose many of the same risks as aerosol sprays. While they may not have propellants, plug-ins contain phthalates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and artificial fragrances that still pollute indoor air and raise health concerns.

Do air fresheners cause cancer or other diseases?

Specific links between air freshener exposure and cancer rates require more research. However, air fresheners contain chemicals like formaldehyde and phthalates known to increase cancer risks with exposure over time. More definite are air fresheners' connections to aggravated asthma and breathing issues.

What air freshener ingredients should I avoid?

Avoid air fresheners containing phthalates like DEP, VOCs like limonene, propellants, formaldehyde and artificial fragrances, which are hidden under terms like “fragrance.” Safer alternatives are beeswax, essential oils, and water-based air fresheners. But risks remain, so best not to use any frequently.

Can air fresheners harm pets?

Air freshener chemicals and fragrances can irritate eyes, airways and lungs in pets, as well as exacerbating respiratory conditions. Pets also groom themselves, increasing ingestion risks. New scents can also stress pets used to familiar home smells. It’s best not to regularly use air fresheners, especially around birds and other small pets.

Do natural air fresheners like essential oils have risks?

While safer than synthetic air fresheners, “natural” scented products like essential oils still introduce chemicals into air that can trigger asthma, migraines and allergies in some people. Natural scents should still only be used cautiously and as needed rather than constant dispensing. Safer alternatives are opening windows and baking soda.