Can air fresheners cause respiratory problems?

Can air fresheners cause respiratory problems?

About 20 percent of the population and 34 percent of people with asthma report health problems from air fresheners. We know air freshener fragrances can trigger allergy symptoms, aggravate existing allergies and worsen asthma.

Are scents bad for lungs?

Chemicals used to add scents to products can cause serious health problems for some people, especially for people with lung diseases such as asthma or COPD . Being near a scented product can make some people sick. Scents enter our bodies through our skin and our lungs.

Do air fresheners cause lung cancer?

Because they contain ingredients that are associated with various health effects, our constant exposure to air fresheners is cause for concern. Researchers have measured and identified air freshener chemicals that are linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, and effects from endocrine disruption.

Can scented candles irritate lungs?

Burning candles releases volatile organic compounds and particulate matter into the air. Particulate matter is a mixture of extremely small liquid droplets and particles that can enter your lungs. There's concern that extended exposure to particulate matter can lead to heart and lung problems.

Can candles cause respiratory problems?

Commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol and esters. These harmful chemicals can cause health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness and allergy symptoms to asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections and even cancer.

What happens if you spray febreeze in your mouth?

Liquid air freshener, when swallowed in small amounts, can cause minor irritation to the mouth, nausea, and vomiting. Swallowing large amounts can cause drowsiness or intoxication.

Are essential oils safe for lungs?

“In fact, breathing in the particles released by the oils may actually trigger airway inflammation and asthma symptoms,” she says. “The strong odors emitted by essential oils may contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are chemical gases that worsen air quality and can irritate the lungs.”

Which essential oil is good for lungs?

Eucalyptus oil has been used widely for centuries as a home remedy for respiratory conditions. Eucalyptus oil contains an ingredient called cineole. A 2013 study found that cineole had antimicrobial effects on some bacteria that cause respiratory illnesses.

Are there any harmful chemicals in air fresheners?

Changes in FEV1 (with 95% confidence intervals) for each decile of 1,4-dichlorobenzene concentration among participants in the NHANES III. New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, may be harmful to the lungs.

How are air fresheners linked to respiratory diseases?

"This research suggests that 1,4-DCB may exacerbate respiratory diseases," said NIEHS director David A. Schwartz, MD, in a news release. In some homes and public restrooms, the CDC has detected 1,4-DCB levels that exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's minimal risk limit for long-term exposure.

How many air fresheners are in the air?

A 1987 study by the Environmental Protection Agency found 1,4-DCB in the air of 80% of U.S. homes surveyed. Only a third of these homes used products containing the chemical. The new findings appear in the August issue of Environmental Health Perspectives.

Is it safe for a child to eat air freshener?

Swallowing a small amount of wax is a choking hazard in young children, but is otherwise not expected to be toxic. Liquid air freshener, when swallowed in small amounts, can cause minor irritation to the mouth, nausea, and vomiting.