This article appeared in the May/June 1999 issue of Good Dog!® Magazine.

How Safe Is Febreze?

by Ross Becker, Publisher, Good Dog! Magazine (www.gooddogmagazine.com)

This story may be posted and forwarded in its entirety, as long as you include this note. Electronic copies are available at our website, www.gooddogmagazine.com ©1999 Good Dog! Magazine. All rights reserved. (gdweb)

If you're a dog person who uses the Internet, you've probably received a copy of the forwarded message titled, "Febreze Is Dangerous To Pets." No one seems to know where this message originated, but slightly different versions have been circulating since late 1998.

Since many of our readers, friends, relatives and writers have forwarded this message to us, and since we're The Consumer Magazine for Dog Owners, Good Dog! magazine decided to investigate.

The e-mail originated in mid-December on the rec.pets.birds newsgroup with a story about a smoker spraying Febreze on his clothes, and several birds dying.The author had previously posted questionable information about the hazards of Teflon®. Despite efforts of responsible members of the newsgroup to kill the story, it took on a life of its own, and morphed into a warning to dog and cat owners.

First, you may ask, what is Febreze®? It's a fabric deodorizer that comes in a pump bottle. It's water-based, and uses a modified starch as its main ingredient. Starches in this class are approved by the FDA as food additives. It also contains 1% or less zinc chloride, which is a similar level to what's in eyedrops. There's also a preservative and some perfume.

Febreze is made by Procter & Gamble, one of the world's largest consumer products companies. According to the label, Febreze is designed to be sprayed on fabric.

Let's look at some of the accusations mentioned in the e-mail.

One of the e-mail versions we received states, "There have been multiple instances of dogs and birds who have died or became very ill after being exposed to Febreze, a deodorizer/air freshener." Good Dog! checked with our friends at the ASPCA's National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC). Steve Hansen, DVM, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist, told us that they have not had any cases reported to them of poisonings from Febreze. Veterinarians and dog owners across the country call NAPCC for assistance when pets have been poisoned or exposed to toxic substances. The NAPCC maintains a database of cases, and knows when a product is causing problems.

According to Hansen, they haven't received any reports on Febreze, although they have certainly received a host of inquiries.

Here's the official statement from NAPCC: "Veterinary toxicologists at the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center are conducting an on-going investigation into claims that use of Febreze in the home caused the death of several pets. All information reviewed to date suggests that there is no evidence that Febreze represents any risk to pets when used according to label instructions. Presently, the Center considers the product safe to use in households with pets. Please call 1-800-345-4735 if you have any questions or have a pet that you suspect is experiencing problems, or visit us at www.napcc.aspca.org."

Has anyone contacted Procter & Gamble with problems? We talked to P&G spokesperson Damon Jones. He said that the first dog owner to contact the company with a potential serious problem occurred in mid-March -- three months after the e-mail began circulating. In this case, a 14-year-old dog had died, and the owner was asking whether Febreze could have been a factor. P&G staff vets and toxicologists are getting in touch with the dog's vet.

Procter & Gamble Toxicologist Jennifer Counts, Ph.D. told Good Dog!, "It started in the middle of December. We spent a lot of time talking to a consumer from Pennsylvania who thought Febreze killed her three parakeets. We talked to her veterinarian, and there were other factors which could have been involved. To the best of my knowledge, no determination was ever made as to the cause of death of the birds. But it became a heart-wrenching story when she put it on the Internet.

"We've tried to track down other consumers who had problems and we've followed up with everyone who calls us. We haven't heard from any cat owners, and only a few people have reported skin allergies in dogs.

"Based on clinical and non-clinical testing, we wouldn't expect any adverse effects. We've consulted with veterinarians, and they say there's nothing in the formula which should be a concern.

"According to our research, the modified starch is too big a molecule to get into the skin, and there are no reports of zinc chloride causing skin allergy. The preservative and perfume are very common in other household products."

Another part of the e-mail says, "Many birds have already been killed after this product was used in any proximity to them whatsoever, and some dogs have also died. Other dogs have become ill without dying." Damon Jones says, "Not one veterinarian thinks Febreze has been a factor in the death of a dog."

Dr. Hansen of NAPCC says, "In a high concentration, zinc chloride can be corrosive and can cause skin lesions. Febreze, with 1% or less of zinc chloride and a pH of 4 to 5, might be slightly irritating if sprayed directly on the skin, but not enough to cause skin lesions. It's not likely to be a problem if used according to the label instructions."

Before Procter & Gamble markets a product, it does extensive testing to determine safety and efficacy. The individual ingredients in Febreze have been tested, and the final product has also been tested. The company reviewed tests conducted by independent labs, as well as other scientific experiments involving zinc chloride. Based on this, P&G's Damon Jones declares, "Febreze is safe to use around pets."

According to NAPCC's Steve Hansen, zinc chloride was being considered for use as a mouthwash useful in treating gingivitis in people. The animal model studied? Beagles.

Steve Hansen says there are other, more serious pet hazards to worry about around the house: Caustic automatic dishwasher detergent. Disinfectants. Tub and tile cleaners. Antifreeze. Chocolate.

As for the Febreze scare, is there any truth to this, or is it just another bit of Internet silliness? Give us the facts -- tell us if you've had any problems with Febreze. We'll update this story in a future issue of Good Dog!

Important Phone Numbers

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center:

Febreze Hotline: 1-800-345-4735 (Free)

Emergencies 800-548-2423 (A fee applies)

www.napcc.aspca.org

Procter & Gamble Febreze website: www.febreze.com

Good Dog! (800) 968-1738, e-mail help@gooddogmagazine.com,
website: www.gooddogmagazine.com
This story may be posted and forwarded in its entirety, as long as you include this note. Electronic copies are available at our website, www.gooddogmagazine.com ©1999 Good Dog! Magazine. All rights reserved. (gdweb)