"Unilever Fined for Polluting California Air With Deodorant Spray"

"SACRAMENTO -- A fragrant personal care spray designed to make men appear to be free of unpleasant body odor has polluted California air to the degree that the state has fined the brandowner's corporate parent more than $1 million.

The California Air Resources Board announced Wednesday that it has penalized Conopco Inc. d/b/a Unilever $1.3 million for illegal consumer sales of AXE Deodorant Bodyspray for Men.

Air Resources Board spokesman Dimitri Stanich says the deodorant spray contaminated California air with the volatile organic compounds used as a propellant.

Stanich said deodorant sprays sold in California have a very small specific level of volatile organic compounds, VOCS, that they are allowed to emit and this product exceeded that level."

Unilever has since changed the product to comply with regulations.

Environment News Service had the story February 12, 2010.