Beyond the Pleasant Smell: The Hidden Dangers of Air Fresheners in Your Home

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

We all like our homes to smell fresh (not possible) and inviting. But that seemingly harmless air freshener, scented candle, or electric perfume dispenser might be doing more harm than good. In fact they do and you will understand in detail below. These common household items can release a surprising number of chemicals that negatively impact indoor air quality and potentially our health.

The Culprit: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

All air fresheners, regardless of form (spray, plug-in, candle), rely on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to create their signature scents. VOCs are chemicals that easily become gases at room temperature. While some VOCs occur naturally, those found in air fresheners are often synthetic and can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

Chemistry:

Everything is chemistry around us, the issue relies on the fact of how different chemicals interact in the indoor environment with other gases, sunlight, heat, other substances, or even our bodies. For example, when certain VOCs are exposed to sunlight they can interact with oxides and form ozone (O3), known for the oxidizing properties. Others can form particulate matter through complex chemical reactions known as secondary organic aerosols (SOAs), especially terpenes which resemble to pine smell. Even our natural skin oils can interact with VOCs to produce highly reactive radicals that can generate toxic airborne chemicals in indoor spaces.

Unfortunately, these products come with other chemicals too like Phthalates which are found in almost all products (around 75% that list “fragrance” as an ingredient), and many household cleaners. It is hard to unearth what chemicals are used because in most cases companies use other generic terms like fragrance, solvents, propellants, or even colors to hide the chemicals formulas. Here is a list:

  • Fragrances: They are a mixture of different chemicals including VOCs.
  • Phthalates: They are plasticizers that help distribute and deliver fragrance.
  • Aldehydes: These form from the other ingredients when the freshener remains in the air for several hours.
  • Propellents: These hydrocarbons form a fine mist that distributes the product.
  • Solvents: Ethanol and glycol ethers are used to dissolve the other ingredients.
  • Deodorizers: Chemicals which can absorb and neutralize odors, not always bad but some brands use a cancer-causing chemical (1,4-dichlorobenzene) for this purpose.

Health Concerns:

Exposure to VOCs in air fresheners, especially for those with pre-existing conditions like asthma or allergies, can trigger respiratory distress and even trigger asthma attacks. Research also suggests potential links between long-term exposure to VOCs and some cancers and endocrine disruption.

The following labels are used frequently in European air fresheners. The label on the left describes aquatic toxicity. I will remind you that humans are 60% water and when you inhale the chemicals you eventually dissolve them in the mucus around the human tissue. The label on the right indicates irritants, skin sensitizers, acute toxicity, respiratory tract irritants, and hazardous to the ozone layer. Are you still having these products inside your house?

Beyond Immediate Irritation:

The effects of air fresheners go beyond immediate irritation. These products can mask unpleasant odors without addressing the source, potentially leading to a decreased awareness of indoor air quality problems like mold or mildew growth. Additionally, the constant fragrance can desensitize our noses to natural scents, making us reliant on artificial fragrances for a sense of “freshness“.

Making Safer Scents:

There are ways to freshen your home environment without sacrificing your health. Here are some alternatives:

  • Natural Ventilation: Open windows and doors whenever possible to allow actual fresh air to circulate and remove stale odors. Remember fresh air doesn’t mean it is clean air.
  • Natural Cleaning Products: Opt for natural cleaning solutions like vinegar and baking soda to eliminate odors at the source.
  • Essential Oils: Be careful with essential oils and diffusers. I don’t recommend them. If you still insist on using them, choose 100% organic essential oils and dilute them properly to avoid concentrated exposure. Use as little as possible. Essential oils are also VOCs.

Make informed choices and remember fresh air means air without any odor, 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, and 0.041% carbon dioxide, nothing else.

References:

Taking a Deep Breath: Air Quality Awareness Week 2024

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

This May 6th through 10th, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) [1]. This annual event is a timely reminder about the importance of clean air and the things we can all do to protect it.

This year’s AQAW coincides with World Asthma Day on May 7th, making it an especially relevant opportunity to learn more about how air quality impacts our health.

Why Clean Air Matters

Clean air is essential for our health and well-being. According to the EPA, air pollution can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory illness, heart disease, and even cancer [1].

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Hacking the Herd: How Social Norms Can Inspire You (and Everyone Else) to Change

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

Social norms are like unwritten rules that a group of people follow. They’re the guidelines for how we behave in certain situations, and they help keep things running smoothly. Social norms are still a powerful tool for inspiring behavior change for a few reasons:

  • Leveraging the Desire to Belong: People are social creatures with a natural desire to fit in with their groups. Social norms highlight what behaviors are expected and accepted, nudging people to conform to avoid social disapproval.
  • Focus on Prevalence: Social norms campaigns can emphasize that the desired behavior is actually more common than people think. This can counteract the feeling of being alone in adopting a new behavior.
  • Positive Reinforcement: Seeing others engage in the positive behavior can provide encouragement and a sense of community around the change.

Here’s how social norms can be applied to air pollution:

  • Highlighting Eco-Friendly Choices: Campaigns can showcase people using public transport, carpooling, or opting for sustainable products. This reframes these actions as the norm, making them more likely to be adopted by others.
  • Community Recognition: Programs that recognize individuals or businesses for their efforts to reduce air pollution can create positive social pressure and inspire others to follow suit.
  • Countering Misconceptions: Social norms campaigns can address the misconception that individual actions don’t make a difference. By highlighting the collective impact of many small changes, they can motivate people to take action.

For example, a campaign might feature a slogan like “Most people in our community use heat pumps – Join the Movement for Cleaner Air!” This approach uses social norms (descriptive norm – what people actually do) to encourage alternative heating to wood burning stoves (desired behavior).

By framing eco-friendly behaviors as the social norm, communities can create a more sustainable environment and improve air quality for everyone.

New Silica Dust Limits Aim to Better Protect Miners’ Health

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

On April 18th, 2024, the US Department of Labor has issued a final rule that reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for crystalline silica in mines. Silica dust is a known health hazard that can cause silicosis, a debilitating lung disease. The new rule is intended to better protect miners from irreversible workplace illnesses, it will take effect on June 17th, 2024.

Health Risks of Silica Dust

Silica dust is a component of sand, rock, and quartz. When miners inhale silica dust, it can scar the lungs, leading to silicosis, which reduces their ability to take in oxygen. Silicosis can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain. In severe cases, it can be fatal.

New Exposure Limits

The final rule reduces the PEL for silica dust to to 50 μg/m3 of air for a full-shift exposure, calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average. This is a significant reduction that will help to reduce miners’ risk of developing silicosis. The action level, or the amount warranting remedial action, is 25 μg/m3 of air. 

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MasterClass: Air Quality Data Visualization with R Studio & Packages

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

R Studio and its packages are used by hundreds of thousands of people to make millions of plots. I use it to compare air sensor data from different air quality monitors/sensors or to visualize air pollution levels.

In this article we will explore both how we can visualize air quality data from publicly available sources and how you can create statistical correlations between different pollutants or different sensors to find the correlation coefficient or correlation of determination.

First: Get the Right Packages

Packages are collections of functions, data, and compiled code in a well-defined format, created to add specific functionality. Here are some of the packages that we will install inside RStudio and use.

#You can either get ggplot2 by installing the whole tidyverse library
install.packages(tidyverse)

#Alternatively, install just ggplot2
install.packages(ggplot2)

#saqgetr is a package to import European air quality monitoring data in a fast and easy way
install.packages(saqgetr)

#worldmet provides an easy way to access data from the NOAA Integrated Surface Database
install.packages(worldmet)

#Date-time data can be frustrating to work with in R and lubridate can help us fix possible issues
install.packages(lubridate)

#Openair is a package developed for the purpose of analysing air quality data
linstall.packages(openair)
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From Boom to Bust: The Great IoT Air Quality Recession

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

The once booming Internet of Things (IoT) air quality monitoring market is facing a harsh reality check. Fueled by a surge in AI startups attracting investments and a subsequent saturation of low-cost air quality monitors, the industry is experiencing a period of upheaval. This downturn, dubbed “The Great IoT Air Quality Recession,” is forcing companies to adapt or face extinction. I see many high-profile executives leaving previously thought innovative startups in the realm of air quality in search of a more “stable” future.

A Wave of Investment and Sensor Saturation

AI startups like ChatGTP and similar, promising to leverage the power of machine learning to generate content or analyze data, became investor darlings. This new influx of cash is fueling the decline of IoT low-cost air quality solutions.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the market quickly became saturated with low-cost monitors that promised that will fix indoor and outdoor environments. Buildings were filled with cheap monitors, but actionable insights remained scarce. The promised AI-powered analysis, in many cases, failed to materialize. Consumers were left with a plethora of data points with no clear understanding of what it all meant or what to do.

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Dust Devils of Doom: Sand Storm & Haboob and Their Invisible Assault on Human Health

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

Recently, I met Dr. Karin Ardon-Dryer and she is my new favorite scientist/superstar because of her research and her charismatic way to share important information to the public. She was able to captivate everyone in the room with her presentation Effect of Dust Particles on Human Health at Miami University.

Sand storms, often romanticized in movies and documentaries, pose a far more significant threat than just a dramatic backdrop. These swirling giants of dust wreak havoc on air quality, carrying not just coarse sand but also microscopic fine particles with serious implications for human health. While sand storms are often associated with arid regions far from home, their reach extends farther than you might think, impacting even areas within the United States. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and even eastern California are some of the states that experience poor air quality from such meteorological phenomena.

Haboob vs Sandstorm vs Dust Storms 

  • Haboob (Arabic for blasting/drifting) is a strong wind carrying a mass of dust and sand that has been lifted from the ground in very dry areas such as deserts.
  • Sandstorm is a windstorm especially in a desert, that blows along great clouds of sand.
  • Dust storms carry much smaller particles, which can be carried higher and further than sandstorms. 
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Review: AIRVALENT – The smallest CO2 Monitor

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

Since I caught COVID last month (for the first time after 4 years), I’ve become increasingly concerned about the air quality in the places that I visit or stay for a long period of time like an airplane. So, I decided to try out the AIRVALENT CO2 air quality monitor to see if it could help me identify badly ventilated indoor environments.

Why the AIRVALENT?

  • Smallest CO2 monitor available: If size is a major concern, the AirValent could be a good option as it can easily fit in your pocket while traveling.
  • Aesthetically pleasing design: The AirValent appears to have a sleek and modern design that can be customizable during the purchase process. Various colors and patterns to choose from.
  • Tracks CO2, humidity, and temperature: This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of your indoor environmental quality.
  • Bluetooth connectivity: Allows for data monitoring and analysis through a smartphone app.

Technical Characteristics of AIRVALENT

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5 European Cities Air Quality

Air Quality Report from 5 Major European Cities

Sotirios Papathanasiou2 Comments

European cities are showing significant progress in combating air pollution, according to data collected from active official traffic air quality stations. There are positive trends which translate to cleaner air for residents, with reductions in harmful pollutants like PM2.5 and NO2. This article explores the known strategies that these cities have implemented to achieve such remarkable improvements, offering valuable insights for other urban centers striving for a healthier future.

These are the 5 cities and traffic air quality stations that I have analyzed data from.

  • Berlin DEBE068 (B Mitte, Brückenstraße)
  • Madrid ES0118A (Escuela Aguirre)
  • Rome IT1906A (Arenula)
  • Paris FR04012 (Place Victor Basch)
  • Athens GR0003A (Aristotelous)
European Air Quality Network – Active and Inactive Air Quality Stations
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The European Union Agreed on New Rules & PM2.5/NO2 Limits for Cleaner Air

Sotirios Papathanasiou5 Comments

On February 20, 2024, the Council of the EU released a press release that discusses the agreement reached by the Council and Parliament to strengthen air quality standards in the EU. The new standards are expected to improve air quality and reduce premature deaths. They will be reviewed regularly and could be further strengthened in the future.

EU lawmakers have joined forces to strengthen air quality standards by 2030. These new, stricter limits and targets align more closely with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and will be subject to regular review. The updated directive tackles a range of air pollutants, including fine particles (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and even toxic metals like arsenic and lead. Each pollutant has its own specific standard, with the most significant reductions targeting those posing the greatest health risks. For example, annual limits for PM2.5 and NO2 will be more than halved, dropping from 25 µg/m³ to 10 µg/m³ and 40 µg/m³ to 20 µg/m³, respectively.

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