Here’s to Fresh Air!

No need for alarm, but there are some important things to keep in mind when choosing your next air freshener. Although it may seem counterintuitive that something made to clean or freshen the air in your home would be found to be potentially unsafe, that is exactly what some recent studies by NRDC and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey have found. According to the studies, some common everyday air fresheners (aerosol sprays, plug-in units, and even those flat ones hung from a car mirror) contain various chemicals in a category known as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). While damaging the quality of the air, VOC’s are known to have serious negative effects on human health, from lightheadedness and asthma, to lung and kidney damage, and even birth defects and cancer. The good news however, is that NRDC, Sierra Club, and a whole host of powerful environmental groups, are on your side, lobbying the U.S. government to regulate the air freshener market, and to call for a truth in advertising label for products. While you wait for the results of these efforts, there are a number of genuinely safe products on the market for you to consider.

These include using beeswax, scented soy, or essential oil-based candles, keeping flowers and house plants (to filter the air) in the home, boiling your favorite herbs, or even just opening the windows to improve overall ventilation through an interior space - yes, sometimes the simple (and non chemical-based) solution is best. And for those who must have the latest in high design natural air fresheners, Method offers a number of products, including their Aroma Pill, Aroma Ring, and Aroma Soy Candle. So, the next time you’re thinking of freshening up the home, you can consider some of the many alternatives and be confident that you’re making a healthier choice!

Some helpful links:

NRDC’s petition Clearing the Air: Hidden Hazards of Air Fresheners

EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Section

AVEDA

Citrus Magic

Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher

Blue Corn Naturals

Inspiration for Designers Worldwide

101 Things Designers Can Do To Save The Earth offers many simple ways to work and create more sustainably. The site was inspired out of a collaboration between AIGA Seattle and the School of Visual Concepts. To get the full list via RSS click here.