We want our houses to smell nice and be spotlessly clean. We use all sorts of commercially available products like air fresheners, floor cleaners and scented candles. We want to look and smell nice ourselves, so we use deodorants and hair treatment chemicals. These products may look harmless, but according to a study by Purdue University, they pollute the air in our homes and may have negative effects on our health.
According to studies by Purdue University engineers Nusrat Jung and Brandon Boor, air fresheners, wax melts, floor cleaners, deodorants and others rapidly fill the air with nanoscale particles that are small enough to get deep into our lungs. These nanoparticles are particularly concerning because they can reach very high concentrations, potentially posing risks to respiratory health. A nanoparticle is a particle of matter one to 100 nanometres in diameter. One strand of human hair is about 50 to 100 micrometers thick. One nanometer is 1/1000 of a micrometer.
These nanoparticles form when fragrances interact with ozone, triggering chemical transformations that create new airborne pollutants. Ozone is a gas that can be good or bad depending on where it is located. In the atmosphere, ozone is beneficial because it blocks the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. At ground level, it is a harmful air pollutant. It is the main ingredient in “smog.” Chemicals released from car fresheners also react with ozone to create harmful pollutants.
Another chemical that reacts with ozone and forms nanoparticles is terpene. Wax melts and other scented products release terpenes, the chemical compounds responsible for their scents. Wax melts are pieces of scented wax which, when heated in the top of an oil burner, release a beautiful aroma into the room. Unlike scented candles, they are not directly lit or burned.
According to the study authors, scented chemical products match or surpass gas stoves and car engines in the generation of nanoparticles smaller than three nanometers, called nanocluster aerosol. Between 100 billion and 10 trillion of these particles could be deposited in the respiratory system within just 20 minutes of exposure to scented products.
In another study, Jung and her students have found that several chemicals, particularly cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes which are common in hair care products linger in the air in surprising amounts during and after use. In a single hair care session at home, a person can inhale a cumulative mass of 1-17 milligrams of these chemicals. Imagine the amount of air pollution in a salon or beauty shop!
Homes and cars are supposedly safe haven for our families. However, synthetic air fresheners are polluting the air in these places. It is better to use flowers like sampaguita and ylang-ylang to have a natural pleasant smell. For my car, I use sampaguita garlands because I don’t like the strong smell of commercially sold air fresheners.
If we cannot avoid using artificial air fresheners, minimize air pollution by having a good ventilation system.