That sweet smell may be dangerous

Environmental groups are raisisng a stink over those nice-smelling air fresheners. Today Walgreen's announced it will pull some air freshener products off their shelves. Then the company will have its own independent testing done.

The Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups tested the air fresheners. They found diethyl phthalate in many of the products tested, and that's apparently not good news. An NRDC blogger warns the chemical has been linked to genetic and reproductive problems.

Currently there are no U.S. government tests run on air fresheners which are commonly used in homes, hotels and offices. The environmental groups today petititioned the EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission to regulate air fresheners. Some also contain formaldehyde and benzene. Health problems that could be linked to fresheners include hyperactivity and asthma. This is an issue sure to reverberate around cubicle-land and across the American officescape.

Back in 2005, a European organization tested 74 air fresheners there and found they significantly increased indoor air pollution. Here's the whole report with its fine list of hydrocarbons you get to breath from the "fresheners." "Air freshener" that actually pollutes. You gotta love marketing. It leaves me in shock and awe.