ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Many cleaning and fragrancing products used indoors may not be as safe as previously assumed, according to a Purdue University study.

Engineers at the Indiana university have found that certain air fresheners, wax melts, floor cleaners and deodorants have the capacity to rapidly fill the air with nanoscale particles that are small enough to penetrate deep into human lungs. And in high concentrations this can potentially pose a risk to respiratory health.

The study was conducted by Purdue University civil engineering professors Brandon Boor and Nusrat Jung.

"To understand how airborne particles form indoors you need to measure the smallest nanoparticles - down to a single nanometer," said Boor. "At this scale we can observe the earliest stages of new particle formation where fragrances react with ozone to form tiny molecular clusters. These clusters then rapidly evolve, growing and transforming in the air around us."

Jung and Boor have been tracking how far household products emit volatile chemicals and generate airborne nanoparticles in a tiny house lab. This lab has all the features of a typical home but is equipped with sensors that closely monitor the impact of everyday activities on air quality.

"Our research shows that fragranced products are not just passive sources of pleasant scents - they actively alter indoor air chemistry, leading to the formation of nanoparticles at concentrations that could have significant health implications," said Jung. "These processes should be considered in the design and operation of buildings and their HVAC systems to reduce our exposures."

Jung and Boor believe their findings highlight the need for further research into indoor nanoparticle formation triggered by heavily-scented chemical products.