Research at Purdue University has revealed that common scented products—like air fresheners, wax melts, and cleaning supplies—create potentially harmful nanoparticles when their fragrances interact with indoor ozone. Using a specialized “tiny house lab,” engineers Nusrat Jung and Brandon Boor discovered that these nanoparticles, which are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and other organs, form at concentrations that could pose significant health risks.
In their series of studies, Jung and Boor found that scented wax melts, despite being marketed as nontoxic and flame-free, pollute indoor air as much as candles. Additionally, a study led by Boor found that scented products are not the only pollutants: Gas stove cooking can emit 10 to 100 times more sub-3 nanometer particles than car exhaust on a busy street. As a result of their findings, the researchers are working with industry partners to test new air quality measurement instruments in their unique lab setting, which provides more realistic data than traditional chamber environments. While the exact health impacts of inhaling these chemical mixtures and nanoparticles are still being studied, the findings highlight the need for better monitoring, control, and regulation of indoor air quality.
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