Why are some deodorant blocks hazardous?
Some restroom and urinal deodorant blocks contain paradichlorobenzene (p-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, or “para”), a respiratory irritant that can trigger an asthma attack in someone who already has asthma. Most of our exposure to paradichlorobenzene occurs indoors, with the source being products such as deodorant blocks and mothballs. Para persists in the environment and the National Toxicology Program reports that it is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.
