Naturopathic doctor Pedi Mirdamadi says the everyday item may contain toxic chemicals – including formaldehyde – that could be causing issues you didn’t think about before
A doctor has issued a warning over the ‘toxicity’ of a common household item (stock)(Image: Milan Markovic via Getty Images)
Naturopathic doctor Dr Pedi Mirdamadi has warned that this common household item may be behind problems such as itchy eyes and allergy symptoms, and he suggested it could also aggravate respiratory issues, including asthma or upper respiratory infections.
The product he’s referring to isn’t a cleaning spray or bleach, but something many people keep plugged in year-round. It’s scented air fresheners that you can plug into the wall.
In his clip, Dr Mirdamadi claimed some plug-in fragrances may release chemicals he described as harmful. “Many of these products contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde as well as volatile organic compounds, which enter our bodies through our breath,” he said.
He went on to argue that what we inhale matters because “the air we breathe is the quickest and easiest way to get toxins into our body”.
Dr Mirdamadi recommends switching these products for natural alternatives but warns that essential oils aren’t a good idea for those with pets, as they can cause harm to them.
Are air fresheners dangerous?
The HSE website lists “room fresheners, including liquid reed diffusers” as common poison risks and advises you to keep these away from babies and children.
However, this doesn’t mean that these products are necessarily harmful to adults. Used properly, plug-in air fresheners aren’t usually seen as a major health risk.
But it’s worth being cautious about indoor air quality – especially in smaller or stuffy rooms – because these products release fragrance chemicals into the air.
Even when formaldehyde isn’t listed as an ingredient, some fragranced emissions can contribute to indoor air pollutants, and in certain conditions, very small amounts of formaldehyde can be generated indoors.
Formaldehyde can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and higher or long-term exposure is linked with more serious health concerns. That’s why good ventilation matters: stronger smells in enclosed spaces can mean you’re breathing in more of whatever is being released.
For most households, following the directions on the pack, keeping rooms well-ventilated, and avoiding heavy use in tight spaces should reduce the risk of problems.
But some people are more sensitive to scented products than others – particularly those with asthma, allergies or other breathing conditions – and may notice symptoms like headaches, coughing, wheezing or irritation.
If you feel unwell when using a plug-in air freshener, stop using it, ventilate the room and seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor.
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