Laundry Product, Fragrance Makers Rebut Researcher’s Safety Findings

University of Washington professor Anne Steinemann made “unsubstantiated claims” about the safety of scented laundry products that led to “sensationalist headlines,” according to a coalition of groups representing laundry product and fragrance manufacturers. In her study, Steinemann reported that scented laundry products emit dangerous vapors from chemicals such as benzene and acetaldehyde. But in their rebuttal statement, the American Cleaning Institute, Consumer Specialty Products Association, International Fragrance Association-North America, and the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc., said the research was significantly flawed. “Fragranced fabric care products are safe when used as directed,” they said.