Carpet Freshener as a Home Contaminant
Transmitted Linear Polarized Light
Definition/Function:
Most carpet deodorizers are basically sodium bicarbonate (baking Soda,
NaHCO3) with an added scent. Sodium bicarbonate is the active
deodorant. The scent is added to mask the odor until the sodium bicarbonate has done its
job. The scent can cause health problems for sensitive
individuals.
Significance in the Environment:
Sodium Bicarbonate can be a skin irritant if left on the skin. The use of this material
on a carpet can cause rashes on infants and may cause
rashes on sensitive individuals if not adequately removed from the carpet.
Characteristic Features:
Sodium bicarbonate belongs to the monoclinic crystal system with refractive indices of
1.586, 1.500, and 1.380 and a birefringence of 0.206. It is
colorless and tends to form as prisms or 010 (optic plane) tablets.
Associated Particles:
References:
