Common consumer products, including those marketed as ‘green', 'all-natural', 'non-toxic', and ‘organic’, emit a range of harmful compounds.

A University of Melbourne study showed that the friendly sounding titles belie products’ contents, which can harm human health and air quality.

Most of these ingredients are not disclosed to the public

Melbourne Uni’s Professor Anna Steinemann - a world expert on environmental pollutants, air quality and health effects - investigated and compared volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from 37 different products, such as air fresheners, cleaning products, laundry supplies, and personal care products, including those with certifications and claims of 'green' and 'organic'.

The products were analysed using advanced gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) headspace analysis.

The study found 156 different VOCs emitted from the 37 products, with an average of 15 VOCs per product.

Of these 156 VOCs, 42 are classified as toxic or hazardous under US federal laws, and each product emitted at least one of these chemicals.

The full article is available for free, here. 

Findings revealed that emissions of carcinogenic air pollutants from 'green' fragranced products were not significantly different from regular fragranced products.

In total, over 550 volatile ingredients were emitted from these products, but fewer than three percent were disclosed on any product label or material safety data sheet (MSDS).

"The paradox is that most of our exposure to air pollutants occurs indoors and a primary source is consumer products. But the public lacks full and accurate information on the ingredients in these products. Our indoor air environments are essentially unregulated and unmonitored," Professor Steinemann said.

The most common chemicals in fragranced products were terpenes, which were not in fragrance-free versions.

Terpenes readily react with ozone in the air to generate a range of additional pollutants, such as formaldehyde and ultrafine particles.

At this time, consumer products sold in Australia, the US and around the world are not required to list all ingredients, or any ingredients in a chemical mixture called ‘fragrance’.

The important findings included;

  • Ingredients in consumer products and in fragrance formulations, are exempt from full disclosure to the public.
  • For laundry products, cleaning supplies, and air fresheners, labels do not need to list all ingredients, or the presence of a fragrance in the product.
  • For personal care products and cosmetics, labels need to list ingredients, except the general term "fragrance" or "parfum" may be used instead of listing the individual ingredients in the fragrance.
  • For all products, material safety data sheets do not need to list all ingredients.
  • Fragrance ingredients are exempt from full disclosure in any product, not only in Australia and the US but also internationally.