These days, a quick online search can easily lead you to alarming claims about everyday household items being linked to cancer.
Currently under scrutiny are the fabric softener and dryer sheets you commonly use to keep your laundry soft and static-free.
However, the science behind these viral assertions is far more nuanced than one might think. The discussion revolves around the potential health impacts of certain chemicals present in these everyday products.
It’s important to clarify that fabric softeners and dryer sheets, used to freshen up clothes, do not directly result in illness. They are not formulated with active carcinogenic ingredients.
The concern, rather, stems from certain components within these products that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Under certain conditions, VOCs can pose health risks both in the short and long term, contributing to a complex discussion about their safety.
Namely, consumers should keep an eye out for fragrance ingredients, impurities or manufacturing byproducts.
A study from 2011 and one from 2016 found that dryer vents emitted VOCs when fragranced laundry products were used.
Two of the emissions identified, acetaldehyde and benzene, are classified as carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants by the Environmental Protection Agency.
However, further research wasn’t conducted to determine if the emissions cause cancer in people.
Other items may contain blends of VOCs, including phthalates and benzyl acetate, which is often used for a floral scent.
Phthalates have been shown to disrupt endocrines, or natural hormones like estrogen and testosterone, potentially causing reproductive, neurological or developmental issues.
A review of studies also suggests that compounds in scented products — such as phthalates and parabens — have possible links to health concerns like cancer.
However, more research is needed to better understand those links.
Manufacturers may also group multiple chemicals under the name “fragrance” or “perfume” on labels, resulting in unintentional exposure to harmful chemical mixtures.
Unlike detergents, which wash out, softeners are designed to stay in clothing, increasing exposure in two ways: inhalation of the vapors and skin absorption as clothes and bedding make contact with skin.
While there isn’t strong evidence directly linking dryer sheets and fabric softeners to cancer, there could still be some risk.
But experts warn risk factor when using certain laundry products depends on several factors, such as frequency, dose and duration of exposure.
“But because fragrance-related emissions aren’t always obvious from the label, many experts recommend minimizing unnecessary fragrance exposure when practical,” Dr. Krushangi Patel, a medical oncologist at City of Hope, told Parade.