University of Washington Study Is Challenged by CSPA

The Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), which represents household and institutional products, disputes a host of claims and assertions recently touted in a University of Washington study published in its Environmental Impact Assessment Review.

The study, which catalogues product ingredients but does not scientifically evaluate results from exposure to those ingredients, attempts to imply that products regulated under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act might be connected to adverse health effects.

“It is dangerous to stoke the flames of consumer fear with incomplete findings built on a foundation of factual inaccuracies and sweeping assumptions,” said Chris Cathcart, CSPA president. “These products are safe when used according to product labels, and they have been utilized safely by consumers for decades. Cleaning, air freshener and laundry products adhere to strict labeling and safety requirements as mandated by the federal government.”

While CSPA acknowledges, as the study points out, the presence of regulated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some products, it vehemently disagrees with the author’s mischaracterization of information regarding the hazards associated with those VOCs. Not all ingredients are volatile, and not all volatile ingredients are hazardous, according to the Association. The products identified in the study contain no significant levels of volatile hazardous ingredients.

CSPA said it supports sound science that incorporates accurate testing and collection of empirical scientific data for the purpose of developing reliable safety assessments that keep consumer safety at the forefront.

“Per the study’s own admission, it makes no claims regarding possible risks from product use nor did it seek to assess exposure and effects, so we are left scratching our heads as to why they would even publish an incomplete report that attempts to show us that the dots exist, but does nothing to connect them,” added Cathcart.