Scented Products Cause Indoor Air Pollution on Par With Car Exhaust
taylorvich writes:
https://newatlas.com/environment/indoor-air-pollution-scented-terpenes/
Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.
When you hear or see the words 'air pollution,' you most likely think of things like factories and car exhaust. That's pollution that is out there - outside your house. But have you thought about how you're contributing to air pollution inside of where you live by using seemingly innocuous products like scented, non-combustible candles?
New research by Purdue University, the latest in a series of Purdue-led studies, examined how scented products - in this case, flame-free candles - are a significant source of nanosized particles small enough to get deep into your lungs, posing a potential risk to respiratory health
"A forest is a pristine environment, but if you're using cleaning and aromatherapy products full of chemically manufactured scents to recreate a forest in your home, you're actually creating a tremendous amount of indoor air pollution that you shouldn't be breathing in," said Nusrat Jung, an assistant professor in Purdue's Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering and co-corresponding author of the study's.
Scented wax melts are marketed as a flameless, smoke-free, non-toxic alternative to traditional candles, a safer way of making your home or office smell nice. To assess the truth of these claims, the researchers comprehensively measured the nanoparticles formed when they warmed wax melts in their mechanically ventilated test house. The tiny house is actually an architectural engineering laboratory called the Purdue Zero Energy Design Guidance for Engineers (zEDGE) lab. Designed and engineered to test the energy efficiency of a larger building, it's full of sensors that monitor the impact of everyday activities on indoor air quality.
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