Fabric softeners
Respiratory toxicity of fabric softener emissions. 
Rosalind Anderson Ph.D. and Julius Anderson M.D.-Ph.D.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 
Part A, 60:124-136, 2000.

Fabric softeners pads and liquids contain chemicals which 
decrease static cling after drying modern fabrics.  One of 
our dear friends lives just above the laundry room in her 
appartment building. Whenever a neighbor uses the dryer 
(and they all add fabric softeners to their laundry) she 
develops dizziness, shortness of breath, and confusion. 
Could it be that the fabric softener chemicals have toxic effects?

Under carefully controlled laboratory conditions, we exposed 
groups of laboratory mice to air containing the fumes released 
by several types of fabric softener pads. The mice exposed to 
these fumes showed irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. 
Some developed severe asthma-like attacks. The data demonstate 
that some fabric softener pads release toxic(poisonous) chemicals 
into the air. A tee-shirt dried once with a fabric softener also 
released toxic chemicals as demonstrated by our mice.