Sparkling mirrors are nice, but glycol ethers? Think twice! These solvents have various applications and can be found in glass cleaners, carpet cleaners, and multi-surface cleaning products; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies some as “hazardous air pollutants.”2 3 4 5 6 Research links them to reproductive toxicity and developmental issues in animals,⁷ and studies have found lower sperm counts and a significantly increased likelihood of congenital disabilities associated with workplace exposure. Glycol ethers are absorbed through the air, as volatile fumes, via inhalation or skin contact.⁸

Many detergents contain optical brighteners (OBs), but they don’t actually clean—they just make clothes look whiter and brighter.^{9 10 11} These compounds attach to clothing fibers, absorbing UV light and returning it as visible blue light.¹² The problem? Due to their UV-absorbing nature, OBs aren’t easily degraded by sunlight, and they don’t fully break down in water treatment plants, raising concerns about their impact on aquatic ecosystems.^{13 14} And while not inherently carcinogenic, exposure to certain types of UV radiation can transform OBs’ structure, resulting in a “pronounced carcinogenic effect” and a potential hazard for humans and aquatic life.¹⁵

Clean clothes and a fresh home smell great, but could those synthetic fragrances be dangerously good? In a 2011 study, still worth noting, researchers captured emissions from home dryer vents after using the leading brand of scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets.¹⁶ Seven of the 25 gases recorded were hazardous air pollutants, and two—acetaldehyde and benzene—were carcinogens for which the EPA has “no safe exposure level” established.¹⁷ Meanwhile, the 2021 Beyond the Label report from Women’s Voices for the Earth exposes some of the concerning hidden chemicals in synthetic fragrances frequently used in cleaning products.¹⁸ Consider the following three:

• Butylphenyl methylpropional was found in nearly every cleaning product category, with laundry leading the pack.¹⁹ In animal studies, it's linked to reproductive issues, including sperm damage and pregnancy loss, and human exposure appears widespread—a 2016 German government study detected it in nearly all tested individuals.²⁰
• OTNE is a synthetic musk commonly used in fabric softeners, detergents, and dryer sheets. It “poses acute aquatic toxicity” and is frequently found in rivers and oceans. Wastewater treatment plants struggle to remove it, and tests in the U.S. and Germany have detected it in 100 percent of treated water samples. It’s also been found in household dust and breast milk. While research on its effects in humans is limited, it has been flagged as a potential reproductive toxin in animal studies.²¹
• Hexalindanopyran (Galaxolide) is a persistent chemical found in bathroom cleaners, dish soap, air fresheners, and more. It doesn’t quickly degrade, accumulates in the environment over time, and is “highly toxic” to fish and other aquatic life. It’s also a potential endocrine disruptor to humans.²² One Iowa study found it “a constant presence at low levels” in treated drinking water.²³

There are more chemicals to be wary of in cleaning products than we have room to discuss in a short article. Fortunately, there are brands and retailers who prioritize transparency and exclude these (and more) toxic ingredients from their offerings. Equip yourself with cleaning essentials from trustworthy brands that are better for you and the planet. Then, if you feel like taking a chance on housework—hey, we’ve done it too and survived! Wink-wink.

References

1. Scranton, A., Conway, B., McConnell, J., Ted Schettler, MD, Megan Schwarzman, MD MPH, Anne Steinemann, PhD, Robin M Whyatt, DrPH, & Carol Westinghouse. (2021). Beyond the label: Health impacts of harmful ingredients in cleaning products. Women’s Voices for the Earth. https://womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Beyond-the-Label-Re…
2. ARB/SSD/SES. (1997). Toxic Air Contaminant Identification List Summaries - ARB/SSD/SES. In Glycol Ethers [Report]. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/classic/toxics/tac/factshts1…
3. Glycol Ethers. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/glycol-ethers#:~:text
4. EWG’s quick and dirty guide to spring cleaning. (2023, March 2). Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/03/ewgs-quick-and-dirty-gui…
5. Glycol Ethers | NC DEQ. (n.d.). https://www.deq.nc.gov/glycol-ethers#:~:text=
6. Women’s Voices for the Earth. (2021, April 7). Focus on cleaning products specifically targeted to and used by the Latinx community. https://womensvoices.org/beyondthelabel/cleaning-products-marketed-lati…
7. Glycol Ethers. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/glycol-ethers#:~:text
8. Glycol Ethers. (n.d.). https://www.sciencedirect.com/. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/glycol-ethers#:~:text
9. Ask Dr. Pete: What are Optical Brighteners and Why Should We Care? (2021, September). https://dirtylabs.com/. https://dirtylabs.com/blogs/the-dirt/what-are-optical-brighteners-and-w…
10. Optical Brightener. (2007). https://www.sciencedirect.com/. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-scienc…
11. Castro-Sierra, I., Duran-Izquierdo, M., Sierra-Marquez, L., Ahumedo-Monterrosa, M., & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2024, January). Toxicity of Three Optical Brighteners: Potential Pharmacological Targets and Effects on Caenorhabditis elegans. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10818959/
12. Optical Brightener. (2007). https://www.sciencedirect.com/. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-scienc…
13. Niloy, N. M., Haque, M., & Tareq, S. M. (2021, May). Fluorescent whitening agents in commercial detergent: A potential marker of emerging anthropogenic pollution in freshwater of Bangladesh https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215153220304025
14. Castro-Sierra, I., Duran-Izquierdo, M., Sierra-Marquez, L., Ahumedo-Monterrosa, M., & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2024, January). Toxicity of Three Optical Brighteners: Potential Pharmacological Targets and Effects on Caenorhabditis elegans. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10818959/
15. Niloy, N. M., Haque, M., & Tareq, S. M. (2021, May). Fluorescent whitening agents in commercial detergent: A potential marker of emerging anthropogenic pollution in freshwater of Bangladesh. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215153220304025
16. Hickey, H. (2011b, August 24). Scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals through dryer vents. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2011/08/24/scented-laundry-products-emi…
17. Hickey, H. (2011b, August 24). Scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals through dryer vents. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2011/08/24/scented-laundry-products-emi…
18. Scranton, A., Conway, B., McConnell, J., Ted Schettler, MD, Megan Schwarzman, MD MPH, Anne Steinemann, PhD, Robin M Whyatt, DrPH, & Carol Westinghouse. (2021). Beyond the label: Health impacts of harmful ingredients in cleaning products. Women’s Voices for the Earth. https://womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Beyond-the-Label-Re…
19. Scranton, A., Conway, B., McConnell, J., Ted Schettler, MD, Megan Schwarzman, MD MPH, Anne Steinemann, PhD, Robin M Whyatt, DrPH, & Carol Westinghouse. (2021). Beyond the label: Health impacts of harmful ingredients in cleaning products. Women’s Voices for the Earth. https://womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Beyond-the-Label-Re…
20. Hickey, H. (2011b, August 24). Scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals through dryer vents. UW News. https://www.washington.edu/news/2011/08/24/scented-laundry-products-emi…
21. Scranton, A., Conway, B., McConnell, J., Ted Schettler, MD, Megan Schwarzman, MD MPH, Anne Steinemann, PhD, Robin M Whyatt, DrPH, & Carol Westinghouse. (2021). Beyond the label: Health impacts of harmful ingredients in cleaning products. Women’s Voices for the Earth. https://womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Beyond-the-Label-Re…
22. Scranton, A., Conway, B., McConnell, J., Ted Schettler, MD, Megan Schwarzman, MD MPH, Anne Steinemann, PhD, Robin M Whyatt, DrPH, & Carol Westinghouse. (2021). Beyond the label: Health impacts of harmful ingredients in cleaning products. Women’s Voices for the Earth. https://womensvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Beyond-the-Label-Re…
23. Wombacher, W. D., & Hornbuckle, K. C. (2009, November). Synthetic musk fragrances in a conventional drinking water treatment plant with lime softening. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2790179/#:~:text=