Reference summary — not medical advice or a personal risk estimate.
Plug-in air freshener
Continuously-emitting scent products; some formulations contain paradichlorobenzene or formaldehyde-releasing chemistry.
Also known as: air freshener, room deodoriser
What this does NOT mean
Finding a factor documented in this product category does not establish that ordinary use of plug-in air freshener causes cancer. It means research — through regulatory testing, recall records, or IARC review — has found that chemical present in this category. Whether it matters for you depends on formulation, dose, frequency, and route of exposure.
What has been documented
- para-DichlorobenzeneIARC Group 2BIARC Group 2BContains · high confidence
PDCB is a common active in continuous-emission air fresheners.
Evidence source: EPA CPDat
- FormaldehydeIARC Group 1IARC Group 1Byproduct of ingredients · medium confidence
Combustion of scented compounds and some plug-in chemistry produces formaldehyde.
Evidence source: EPA CPDat
- NaphthaleneIARC Group 2BIARC Group 2BContains · medium confidence
Some formulations use naphthalene as an active.
Evidence source: EPA CPDat
How to read this page
A factor appearing on this page means it has been documented in this product category — through EPA / FDA testing, IARC monographs, or regulatory recall records. Whether it presents a meaningful personal risk depends on the specific formulation, dose, and how you're exposed. Click any factor to read what science actually says about it, and where.