Written Well, since the question didn't specify any sort of air fresheners, I'm going to assume that you mean some sort of odor mask. I would include things like Febreeze, Glade, Lysol, etc. in this group. If I'm mistaken please let me know.With this in mind, Alex K. Chen referenced a good article regarding some of the top-selling air fresheners and their toxicity. However, I would like to take this one step further and mention that any aerosol can be toxic. There are two factors to consider. 1) First off, you want to consider the active ingredient(s). The entire point of a masking agent is to overwhelm your olfactory receptors [1] with a high concentration of a chemical that smells "good." The issue here is twofold. First off, if you're in a room of concentrated Lysol (let's say) spray, then your supply of oxygen is low. This would be an extreme, but it would be toxic in the sense that it would deprive you of oxygen. The more likely scenario is that you overuse the product and end up with some of the active ingredients actually entering your bloodstream (the nasal endothelium is relatively easy to cross, as it is thinner than some other external barriers [2]—a thin layer of mucus and then a few thin layers of cells before you hit blood vessels).

In this case, you have an aromatic compoundAbove is the basic structure of benzene, the most basic aromatic compound (C6H6). Since it is relatively small and non-polar, it can cross the blood barrier easily. A quick Google search shows one of the active chemicals in Febreeze as Granted, in biochemistry, size does matter. But if you take the time to look carefully, you would notice the symmetry present in the structure (Febreeze, apparently, uses the beta form). The hydroxyl groups (-OH) are hydrophilic, making even more likely to permeate the bloodstream, as electrochemical forces would be pulling the Beta-CD into the blood. I don't currently have access to all the articles I would like, but if a molecule like this were to enter the brain, it would interfere with special sub-processes of the brain (I think they're called pi-electron fields?). At any rate, large molecules like the ones above can easily capture free electrons and hold them, meaning they would disrupt cellular metabolism in any organ in the body, though none as pronounced as the brain.

On top of this, it is likely that there are ways for the above molecules to use their hydroxyl groups to bind to neurons and interfere with normal functioning. I can't back this up right now, so I'm just going to toss it out there as a semi-logical conclusion. 2) The other thing to consider with any aerosol is the propellant used. CFCs had their claim to fame with air conditioners and refrigerators a few decades ago, so now one commonly used propellant is compressed carbon dioxide. Holding down on the trigger allows some of the CO2 out, which allows it to expand. This has the effect of cooling whatever container you're holding (if you've ever used a computer keyboard cleaner, you've felt this). As the gas expands, it gains kinetic energy, taking it from the exterior, thereby cooling the exterior. A propellant such as CO2 isn't necessarily toxic on its own, but many abuse it—I've seen a few people sit and snort a bottle of keyboard cleaner (before they introduced the bitterant compound).

Of course this is toxic: you lose oxygen, your brain gets dazed, and you get a mild high. OK, so looking back at the answer I see it is somewhat long-winded, but there was a reason for that. philips air purifier ac4012ALL air fresheners are toxic to some degree. cleaner air solutions heanorIf you use them as directed, and make sure to have plenty of ventilation, you are not at risk of developing cancer or anything like that. air purifying respirators aprs come in which of the following varietiesHowever, should you lock yourself in the bathroom and spray off an entire bottle, you may well find yourself passing out and in serious trouble. I hope this helps![/wiki/Car...Written Upvoted by Albert DonnayPractically all the top-selling onesIn 2008, Anne Steinemann of the University of Washington published a study of top-selling air fresheners and laundry products.

[8] She found that all products tested gave off chemicals regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, including carcinogens with no safe exposure level, but none of these chemicals were listed on any of the product labels or Material Safety Data Sheets. Chemicals included acetone, the active ingredient in paint thinner and nail-polish remover; chloromethane, a neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant; and acetaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, both carcinogens. A plug-in air freshener contained more than 20 different volatile organic compounds, with more than one-third classified as toxic or hazardous under federal laws. Even air fresheners called "organic," "green," or with "essential oils" emitted hazardous chemicals, including carcinogens.In 2009, Stanley M. Caress of the University of West Georgia and Anne C. Steinemann of the University of Washington published results from two national epidemiological studies of health effects from exposure to air fresheners. They found that nearly 20 percent of the general population and 34 percent of asthmatics report headaches, breathing difficulties, or other health problems when exposed to air fresheners or deodorizers.

/rele...Given that such research was quite recent, we don't even know the toxicity of many of the untested ones.So what are some alternatives?Removing the source of an unpleasant odor will decrease the chance that you will smell it. Ventilation is also important to maintaining indoor air quality and can aid in eliminating unpleasant odors. Simple cleaners such as white vinegar and baking soda, as well as adsorbents like zeolite, are effective at removing odors. Some house plants may also aid in the removal of toxic substances from the air in building interiors.Some websites say that a good solution is to put baking soda on the carpet and then to vacuum it up. /2013/07/09/wve-spoofs-sc-johnson/ on this server.A day after a group of environmental organizations asked the federal government to start assessing the risk of air fresheners, Walgreens has pulled three of its products off store shelves, according to a story by Jane Kay in The San Francisco Chronicle. An estimated 75 percent of households use air fresheners, a $1.72 billion industry in the U.S.

But the scented sprays, gels and plug-ins used to mask odors aren't routinely tested for hazardous chemicals. When the environmental group the Natural Resources Defense Council analyzed 14 common products, it found 12 contained hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates, which can be dangerous to pregnant women or young children. "This isn't really just about air fresheners, you know," wrote NRDC senior scientist Gina Solomon on her blog. The real issue here is that hazardous chemicals and endocrine disruptors can be in a wide range of consumer products, and the government has little authority or inclination to do anything about it."Air fresheners have been linked to breathing difficulties, developmental problems in babies and cancer in laboratory animals, according to the petition to two federal agencies from the NRDC, the Sierra Club, Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing. The chemicals in the products can also cause problems for asthmatics.

Walgreens told the Chronicle that it plans to have the air fresheners tested independently and that one of its manufacturers was already in the process of reformulating for a non-phthalate air freshener.Here are the air fresheners tested shown to contain phthalates: Walgreens Air Freshener Spray  (pulled from shelves) Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Fresheners (pulled) Walgreens Solid Air Fresheners (pulled) Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer Medium levels of phthalates: Air Wick Scented Oil Febreze NOTICEables Scented Oil Glade PlugIn Scented Oil Oust Air Sanitizer Spray Low levels or no phthalates detected: Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher Lysol Brand II Disinfectant Oust Fan Liquid Refills To deodorize your home, use the common sense approach, says Deirdre Imus in her book "Green This!" (Simon & Schuster, $15.95)."Open the windows, even in winter, put baking soda on the rugs and eliminate all toxins wherever possible.