Perfume, deodorant, hair spray, air fresheners… can help you smell better and feel more confident, but they also pose health risks, according to new research.
Scientists have recently published a concerning finding: everyday personal care products such as deodorants, perfumes, body sprays, hand creams, and hair sprays can generate ultra-fine particles harmful to the lungs.
Perfumes contain many volatile organic compounds that can form ultra-fine particles harmful to the lungs when exposed to ozone in the air – (Illustrative image: ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS).
According to research published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters, products like deodorants, perfumes, body sprays, hand creams, and hair sprays contain over 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When these compounds come into contact with ozone in the air, they form ultra-fine particles capable of penetrating the lungs.
Professor Dusan Licina from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne stated: “Some molecules form new particles, which then aggregate into ultra-fine particles that can settle in our lungs.” He emphasized the need for further research on the health impacts of these pollutants.
Researchers found that when using personal care products in an ozone-rich environment, VOCs react to produce more oxidizing vapors, leading to the formation of new particles at a growth rate ten times higher than that of outdoor environments.
To mitigate risks, experts recommend improving ventilation, limiting the use of personal care products, or replacing them with natural products that have fewer chemical reactions.
At the same time, consumers need to raise awareness about this issue, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.
