Limonene Emissions: Do Different Types Have Different Biological Effects?

Neda Nematollahi,Perran A Ross,Spas D Kolev,Anne Steinemann,Ary A Hoffmann

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910505

Abstract

Limonene is one of the most abundant pollutants indoors, and it contributes to the formation of additional pollutants, such as formaldehyde and photochemical smog. Limonene is commonly used in fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies and air fresheners, which have also been associated with health problems. Limonene can exist in different enantiomeric forms (R-limonene and S-limonene) and be derived from different sources. However, little is known about whether different forms and sources of limonene may have different effects. This research explored whether different types of limonene, at the same concentrations, could elicit different biological effects. To investigate this question, the study employed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which have sophisticated olfactory abilities, in olfactometer tests of repellency/attraction. The results indicate that a synthetic source of R-limonene is more repellent than a natural source of R-limonene. In addition, synthetic sources of both R-limonene and S-limonene are not significantly different in repellency. These findings can contribute to our understanding and further exploration of the effects of a common fragrance compound on air quality and health.

Highlights

Accepted: 27 September 2021Chiral terpenes, such as limonene, are among the most abundant pollutants within indoor environments [1,2,3,4]
This study indicates that the same chiral chemical can elicit different biological effects
This study indicates that the same chiral chemical can elicit different biological effects depending on its source

Summary

Introduction

Chiral terpenes, such as limonene, are among the most abundant pollutants within indoor environments [1,2,3,4]. A primary contributor of limonene emissions indoors is fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, and personal care products [5,6,7,8]. Volatile emissions from fragranced consumer products have been associated with human health problems, such as migraine headaches and respiratory difficulties, in nearly one-third of the adult population across four countries [11]. According to chemical analyses of consumer products, limonene and other terpenes are present in fragranced products but absent in fragrance-free products [5,8]. Limonene is of interest for its role as an air pollutant and its association with adverse health effects

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