Dryer Sheets: Health Hazard

Many that use washing machine dryers, often add to the laundry dry sheets, artificially provide a nice fragrance, and laundry feels soft. Certainly I have always added dry sheets to my laundry. However, those artificial fragrances have extremely toxic chemicals. Also, can be found in commercial detergents, bleaches, stain removers, and fabric softeners. Clothing we place on our body, may have residue of those toxic chemicals, that contain carcinogens (cancer causing agent), which may come into contact with our skin or inhaled.

Listed are chemicals found in fabric softeners and dry sheets (eMediaWire website - Press release February 21, 2005):

• Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer
• Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant
• Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders
• Alpha-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage
• Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list
• Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders
• Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic
• Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders
• Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

Additional side effects from any of these chemicals can cause: Nausea, Vomiting, kidney/liver damage, Headaches, Blood pressure reduction, pancreatic cancer and irritation to the skin, mucus membrane and respiratory tract. These side effects may not happen immediately, but over a period of time. Some people may notice constant coughing sensation, while sleeping on dry cleaned bedding sheets, which may be the cause of these chemicals. Skin rashes maybe more likely, on baby's skin, since they are more sensitive to dry sheets, exposed to their clothing. When a person sweats, that moistens the clothes, which may cause the skin to absorb any chemical residue, from the clothing that was treated, with a dry sheet.

There are alternative and safer methods, instead of purchasing these commercially sold fabric softeners and sheets. Purchasing natural fabric softener that uses natural base like soy, which can be bought at health food store. Add to the washing machine cycle, a quarter cup of white vinegar to rinse, that will soften fabric and eliminate cling. Also, add a quarter cup of backing soda to wash, which will soften fabric. Available: Fragrance free chemical reusable dry sheets. These can be purchased online: www.nontoxic.com - Tele: 925 - 472 - 8868 or 'Static Eliminator' - product does not contain any chemicals, fragrances, and hypoallergenic. Also, safe for sensitive skin, eliminates static, softens fabric, and will not hurt clothing flame resistance. This product can be located on the Internet for purchase.