Fabric softener ads often portray an image of comfort, freshness and
sweetness. Yet most fabric softeners contain a grim list of known toxins
which can enter your body through the skin and by inhalation, causing a
wide range of health problems, particularly for young children.
Some of the harmful ingredients commonly found in liquid or sheet fabric softeners include:
•
Chloroform: This substance was used as an anesthesia in the 1800s up
through the early 1900s when its potential for causing fatal cardiac
arrhythmia was discovered. A carcinogenic neurotoxin, it is on the EPA's
Hazardous Waste list. Inhaling its vapors may cause loss of
consciousness, nausea, headache, vomiting, and/or dizziness, drowsiness.
It may aggravate disorders of the heart, kidneys or liver. Its effects
worsen when subjected to heat.
• A-Terpineol: Causes Central
Nervous System (CNS) disorders, meaning problems relating to the brain
and spine such as Alzheimer's disease, ADD, dementia, Multiple
Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, seizures, strokes, and Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome. Early symptoms of CNS problems include aphasia, blurred
vision, disorientation, dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss,
numbness in face, pain in neck and spine. A-Terpineol also irritates the
mucous membranes and, if aspirated into the lungs, can cause
respiratory depression, pneumonia or fatal edema.
• Benzyl
Alcohol: This upper respiratory tract irritant can cause central nervous
system (CNS) disorders, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and
dramatic drops in blood pressure.
• Benzyl Acetate: This
substances has been linked to pancreatic cancer. Its vapors can be
irritating to eyes and respiratory passages and it can also be absorbed
through the skin.
• Ethanol: Another fabric softener ingredient which is on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list and linked to CNS disorders.
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.
•
Ethyl Acetate: This substance, which is on the EPA's Hazardous Waste
list, can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. It may also
cause severe headaches and loss of consciousness, as well as damage to
the liver and kidneys.
• Camphor: Another substance on the EPA's
Hazardous Waste list. It is easily absorbed through body tissue, causing
irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Camphor can also cause dizziness,
confusion, nausea, twitching muscles and convulsions.
• Linalool:
A narcotic known to cause respiratory problems and CNS disorders. In
animal testing, exposure to linalool has resulted in death.
•
Phthalates: Used in scented products to help the scent last longer,
phthlates have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive system
problems.
• Limonene: This known carcinogen can cause irritation to eyes and skin.
•
Also, if you follow a vegan lifestyle, you should be aware that many
fabric softener sheets are made using tallow, a form of animal fat.
Manufacturers
are aware that the products contain toxic chemicals. The packaging on
many brands include a warning that the product should not be used on
children's sleepwear. Since some of the same brands also have large
images of children and toys, however, consumers may miss the small print
message.
Breathing and wearing poison
If you use fabric softener, these
toxic chemicals coat your towels, sheets and clothing so that you absorb
toxins through your skin, the largest organ of the body. When you wear
chemically "softened" clothes, you inhale these chemicals with every
breath. Even if you do not use fabric softener, you can ingest these
chemicals through dryer exhaust sending them into the air or simply by
working with someone whose clothes have been chemically treated in this
way. Fabric softeners are designed to remain in fabric for a long period
of time, slowly releasing into the air.Fabric softeners were
invented to hide the unpleasant smells of synthetic fabrics, whose odors
tend to become stronger when heated, whether on a sweating, active body
or in the dryer. The chemicals in fabric softeners include those meant
to eliminate static cling, as well as perfumes to disguise both the
other chemicals and the odor of synthetic fabrics.
Alternatives
Fabrics
air dried outside on a line do not develop static cling and are more
likely to have a natural pleasant smell. If weather or other factors
make natural line drying of your clothes an impractical choice, try
using more other natural means to eliminate static cling and impart a
fresh smell to your laundry.If possible, install a water
softener. You can also eliminate many clothing odors by thoroughly
dissolving a cup of baking soda in the water before putting your clothes
in the washing machine.There are several types of dryer ball
products on the market. The ones made of rubber may not be the most
eco-conscious means of reducing static as these may off-gas. Instead,
try the variety made of felted wool. Some natural retailers offer dryer
bags, like large tea bags, containing dried lavender. You can also make
your own version of these bags by sewing laundry sachets using cotton
muslin and filling them with your favorite dried herbs.In part
two of this series, we will look at the listed ingredients and warnings
for mainstream fabric softeners, as well as some product lines which are
both vegan and environmentally friendly.Sources:http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/laundry/consider/http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/replace-fabric-softener-vinegar.htmlhttp://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0608/softener.htmhttp://shop.sixwise.com/thetoxicdangeroffabricsofteneranddryersheets2805.aspxhttp://users.lmi.net/wilworks/ehnfs.htmhttp://www.environmentalhealth.ca/special/fall07FabricSofteners.htmlhttp://www.norwexgreenclean.net/page/page/5367159.htmhttp://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-natural-alternatives-to-toxic-fabric-softeners.html
