fabric softeners are extremely hazardous

I am continually amazed at how so many people are so completely unaware of things around them. They don't take the time to really look at what they are doing, what they are using on a daily basis. Again, CONSEQUENCES. Everything has consequences.

One of my favorite books, Green Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck, if you haven't read it, you should, mentions the hazards of chemicals we use around the house. I am very disturbed with fabric softeners. Everyone uses them, everyone goes blindly along, but do they know what chemicals they are breathing and putting next to their skin?

A partial list of the chemical emissions from just one brand includes some of the following, (from Ms. Sandbecks' book)

ISOPROPYLBENZENE . . . do you know that this is a narcotic and a central nervous system depressant? Chronic exposure can cause damage to the lungs, liver and kidneys.
STYRENE. . . . a toxic carcinogen that causes genetic damage and also affects the nervous system.
TRIMETHYLBENZENE. . . . just inhaling this can cause circulatory collapse, severe respiratory damage, coughing, wheezing, choking, nausea, and vomiting. It may cause fainting, convulsions and coma.
PHENOL. . . inhalation may cause severe irritation to the respiratory tract, breathing difficulty, burns and possible coma. Inhalation of higher concentrations could be fatal. Chronic inhalation may cause liver and kidney damage and birth defects and it may also affect the nervous system.
THYMOL. . . . again, this one affects the central nervous system and is a respiratory irritant that can cause kidney and liver damage.

These are just A FEW chemicals that we breathe in on a daily basis. Sure, some of us may have strong bodies that don't get affected but how many of us are sensitive to these things? Just living in a suburban area can be hazardous to sensitive individuals. Every home has the dryer vents pushing all these chemicals out into the air for us to breathe. We put this on our children to breathe all day, every day.

CONSEQUENCES. . . . . is it worth the risk?