[dkv (OP)]

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1664954,00.html

[JimBob]

That is all that needs be said.

[Karen W.]

Thats scary I however do own 1 can which I rarely use. I prefer bunches of Rosemary slightly rolled and hung in the kitchen and large bunches of Lilac in the bathroom and bedrooms! They smell wonderful! I do not mind the smell of garlic in the kitchen as I love garlic and onions etc!

[dkv (OP)]

http://www.stats.org/stories/2007/memo_time_sperm_sept25_07.htm

That was not all.

[Karen W.]

Thanks for the further studies it seems they need to take further action and really do some more studying and restrictions!

[another_someone]

Phthalates have been controversial for many years now:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates#Health_effects

Phthalates are controversial because high doses of many phthalates have shown hormonal activity in rodent studies. Studies on rodents involving large amounts of phthalates have shown damage to the liver, the kidneys, the lungs, and the developing testes. On the other hand, one Japanese study involving juvenile primates (marmosets) did not observe testicular effects (Tomonari et al, The Toxicologist, 2003). Research published in 2006 by Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, and European Chemicals Bureau has found that two of the suspected dangerous phthalates banned by EU legislation - diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) - show no risks to human health or the environment for any current use.

So, as you see, at least in the EU (and I would be surprised if not also in the USA) many phthalates are already banned, but the actual risks (different for each phthalate) are still being discussed.

[dkv (OP)]

I predict that these phthalates will not be banned.
Most of the business houses use it to give a better experience to customers.

Greater the addiction of inappropriate substance more difficult it is to remove from system.
e.g Tobacco , cigarette, alcohol , cocaine , heroine , brown sugar , certain drugs which induce sex like ecstacy and vaigara ....
All of them if used long term may produce genetic defects but who cares?
The gene pool ?:-))
Who selects the "natural"?

Another case of genetic selection going wrong.
But the game continues by TSP.

[Bored chemist]

I note with mild amusement the actual quote from a representative of a science based organisation whose job it is to judge the actual harm done ""We're not saying that there's any clear-cut evidence here for health effects," says Dr. Gina Solomon of the NRDC"

OK so some of these products contain fairly small levels of phthalates. None of them was as much as 1%.
You might think about wearing disposable gloves while handling these materials. OK go ahead but remember that vinyl gloves may be about 50% phthalate by weight (yes, I really mean half the stuff). This has been the case for years. The evidence of harm to individuals or to the species is speculative. There is evidence of harm to rodents but not to primates.

It's interesting to note that newspapers etc don't generally publish stories that say "Something found to be probably harmless" because it doens't sell copy.

As for dkv's points.

"I predict that these phthalates will not be banned."

Did you not read the fact that here in the EU they have been, i'm puzzled that the US hasn't done so.
Could someone let me know what "Greater the addiction of inappropriate substance more difficult it is to remove from system.
e.g Tobacco , cigarette, alcohol , cocaine , heroine , brown sugar , certain drugs which induce sex like ecstacy and vaigara .... "
means?

Just for the record, the adictive bit of tobacco (ie the nicotine) has a fairly short half life in the body (estimtes vary but an hour or two seems to be about right). So do the other drugs mentioned. (If viagra was difficult to remove from the body it would be a serious problem the morning after. This is a potential source of trouble with the related drug cialis). I don't think brown sugar is addictive; I guess it's a street name for something else.
Neither ecstacy nor viagra induce sex.

[paul.fr]

Greater the addiction of inappropriate substance more difficult it is to remove from system.
e.g Tobacco , cigarette, alcohol , cocaine , heroine , brown sugar , certain drugs which induce sex like ecstacy and vaigara ....

What is inappropriate about the substances you mention? and to whom?
why do all of your posts in some way relate to sex?

[techmind]

I've never much liked artificial fragrances. If a place smells, get rid of the thing that's smelling and open a window! Let in some real fresh air.

[Karen W.]

I predict that these phthalates will not be banned.
Most of the business houses use it to give a better experience to customers.

Greater the addiction of inappropriate substance more difficult it is to remove from system.
e.g Tobacco , cigarette, alcohol , cocaine , heroine , brown sugar , certain drugs which induce sex like ecstacy and vaigara ....
All of them if used long term may produce genetic defects but who cares?
The gene pool ?:-))
Who selects the "natural"?

Another case of genetic selection going wrong.
But the game continues by TSP.

Brown sugar..Please explain this one??? Is this a racial comment or am I misunderstanding because I am a bit naive when it comes to these things so please explain what you mean???

[Karen W.]

I've never much liked artificial fragrances. If a place smells, get rid of the thing that's smelling and open a window! Let in some real fresh air.

I prefer natural but love flowers such as lavenders etc.

[Bored chemist]

Incidentally, to answer the question, arguably THE air freshener is the sun. Its UV light destroys odourous compounds. How fresh is it? Not very fresh, it's billions of years old.