Toxic chemicals found in laundry products

SEATTLE, July 24 (UPI) -- A study of six top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found all six emitted at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous, researchers say. Anne Steinemann, a University of Washington professor of civil and environmental engineering, says she analyzed the products to discover the chemicals' identity. "I first got interested in this topic because people were telling me that the air fresheners in public restrooms and the scent from laundry products vented outdoors were making them sick," Steinemann said in a statement. "And I wanted to know, 'What's in these products that is causing these effects?'" The study, published online by the journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review, found nearly 100 volatile organic compounds were emitted from these six products, and none were listed on... [read full story]