A chemical in some air fresheners and pest-control products may slightly impair lung function in millions of people, a nationwide study suggests.
The compound, para-dichlorobenzene, is used to make mothballs, urinal deodorizers, and air-freshening blocks for household use. At room temperature, the strong-smelling chemical gradually changes from a solid to a gas.
Para-dichlorobenzene was previously detected in the blood of more than 95 percent of the participants tested in a U.S.
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