Dryer Sheets Cause Hormone Imbalance, Neurotoxicity, Respiratory Problems, And Even Cancer

April 20, 2016 Health 9 Comments

Most of the popular dryer sheets brands contain dangerous chemicals such as Benzyl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol or Linalool, which can put your health at serious risk. Besides damaging your skin, these chemicals emit hazardous fumes when heated, and these toxins can reach the brain and causes dangerous diseases. Here are 5 reasons why you should stop using the dangerous dryer sheets:

Artificial fragrances

When you use dryer sheets, you are coating your clothes with artificial fragrances which are very toxic. According to animal studies, these chemicals are known carcinogens which cause liver damage.

A recent study performed by the UW professor Dr. Anne Steinemann examined the effects of artificial fragrances in laundry products on the human body. The results showed that they emitted more than 25 different VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) including acetaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. Acetaldehyde had emissions that equaled about 3% of the total acetaldehyde emissions of cars in the same area, which is a major oversight of toxic chemicals.

According to the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the industry-generated MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), here’s what chemicals are found in most fabric softener products:

Alpha-terpineol

This dangerous chemical has been associated with brain and nervous system disorders, depression, headaches and loss of muscle function.

Benzyl acetate

Benzyl acetate is another toxic compound which is linked to pancreatic cancer.

Benzyl alcohol

Benzyl alcohol is an irritant which can cause numerous central nervous system disorders, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and drops in blood pressure.

Chloroform

Chloroform is a neurotoxin, anesthetic and carcinogen which can seriously damage your brain. Inhaling just a small amount of chloroform can cause nausea, headaches, vomiting, dizziness and make you lose consciousness.

Ethanol

Ethanol is another dangerous chemical in fabric softeners which has been linked to several central nervous system disorders.

Ethyl acetate

Ethyl acetate is a dangerous chemical which has been known to cause painful headaches.

Linalool

According to studies, linalool is a dangerous chemical which can cause loss of muscle coordination, central nervous system and brain disorders, as well as depression.

Pentane

Pentane has been linked to central nervous system disorders, headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue and depression.

Thankfully, there is a natural alternative to toxic dryer sheets – wool balls! They are an all-natural fabric softener which can get rid of static cling and wrinkles.

  • Hughspeaks

    Pure scaremongering. None of the chemicals mentioned in that article are dangerous in the doses you’d be exposed to from dryer sheets.

    Ethanol is the active ingredient of alcoholic beverages, and nearly all alcoholic beverages contain significant amounts of ethyl acetate too (it’s a major byproduct of fermentation).

    Alpha terpenol is the main component of pine oil, so every time you go near a pine tree, you’re breathing it in.

    Chloroform in large amounts is toxic and mildly carcinogenic, however the fact that they used to use it as an anesthetic shows that it can’t be that dangerous.

    Benzyl alcohol ” is produced naturally by many plants and is commonly found in fruits and teas. It is also found in a variety of essential oils including jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang.[2]” (wikipedia).

  • David Tesch

    Hey they said “recent studies” isn’t that evidence enough? I love that there are absolutely no references or links to any of these claims.

  • rick

    dryer sheets can coat the lint filter and cause longer drying times over a period of uses

  • Wilsonroo

    where did you learn how to read research?

  • Mary Myers
  • Sick of it all Sue

    that is true, but easy fix is to scrub gently with hot soap and water….no danger then.

  • Dan Reyes

    Pure crap. Trying to scare the ignorant with chemical names. Many of these substances occur naturally in food and plants and flowers. No wonder there’s no author’s name or sources cited. Who would want their name on this garbage?

  • Dan Reyes

    Pure crap. On this same site under the Herbs & Oils section, they talk about the health benefits of burning bay leaves in your home. Bay leaves contain an essential oil that is partially made up of *gasp* Linalool. The same chemical claimed to cause “loss of muscle coordination, central nervous system and brain disorders, as well as depression.”

    https://healthmagazine365.com/burn-bay-leaves-in-the-house-and-see-what-happens-after-10-minutes/

    Perhaps the relaxation and other benefits so eagerly touted here are actually a “brain disorder”.

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