Hair Care Research Articles

Design and analysis of herbal hair oil

The significance of herbal hair oil for the longevity of hair health is highlighted in this study. Hair care products applied to the hair to cure hair issues include herbal hair oil. A vital component of natural cosmetics is herbal hair oil. The goals of herbal hair oil are discussed in this article, along with how it may improve hair health, control frizz, prevent hair loss, and more. This focuses on the components that are frequently used to make herbal hair oil, such as coconut oil, sesame oil, mustard oil, and other herbal ingredients. Herbal hair oil is more in demand and utilized for several hair conditions.

Androgenetic Alopecia: update on Etiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

Alopecia means loss of hair. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) now called as patterned hair loss (male pattern hair loss; MPHL, female pattern hair loss; FPHL) is caused by androgens in a predisposed individual. It is modulated by factors like age, sex, genes, smoking, and alcohol. If untreated this leads to psychological problems like stress, anxiety, depression and decrease self-confidence which affect quality of life. A thorough clinical examination and a certain hormonal estimation could reveal levels of androgens, hyperandrogenism, adrenal hyperplasia, (PCOS) polycystic ovarian syndrome, and ovarian/adrenal tumors. A simple Trichoscopy could show the typical picture of hair miniaturization commonly seen in this condition. Finally, a biopsy of the scalp could help in clinching conclusive diagnosis. Out of the many treatments at our disposal, the non-pharmacologic methods like temporary camouflage techniques, synthetic hair wigs, hair-thickening fibers, hair weaving, pigmented powders are useful. Semi-permanent options like scalp micro-pigmentation (thorough tattooing) are useful to enhance appearances. Presently the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved pharmacologic treatments are Minoxidil and Finasteride. The non-USFDA approved methods of treatments like various surgical procedures {[hair transplantation]: follicular unit transplantation (FUT), follicular unit extraction (FUE), microneedling, light therapy, indigenous medicines, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)}, and various loco-regional hair care practices are in vogue. The outcome of this review is to offer the latest update and insights into the newer novel therapies in patterned hair loss. Also, the patients could enhance their knowledge about the condition, the benefits and prognosis of each treatment.

Questionnaire-Based Study of 392 Women in Abbottabad, Pakistan, to Evaluate the Types of Cosmetic Products Purchased Between December 2018 and March 2019 and Their Associated Adverse Events.

BACKGROUND Cosmetics are applied topically to enhance appearance and are commonly used by women of all ages. Cosmetics contain many chemical agents, but the incidence of adverse reactions is low, possibly due to underreporting. This questionnaire-based study included 392 women to evaluate information on the types of cosmetics purchased between December 2018 and March 2019, their use by the women surveyed, and their associated adverse events. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 women in Abbottabad, Pakistan, using a pre-structured and validated questionnaire to evaluate information on the types of cosmetics, their use, and their associated adverse events. Part 1 of the study collected information about demographics. Part 2 contained a total of 11 items, and collected the frequency of use of cosmetic on skin and hair care products. Part 3 consisted of 4 items and collected information about problems encountered due to the use of cosmetics. RESULTS In the winter season, 47.7% (n=187) of women preferred chemical-based cosmetic products, while 30.9% (n=121) preferred Ayurvedic products. Among commonly used cosmetic products, 26.9% (n=106) of women used foundations. The most frequently used skin care product was face wash 39.5% (n=155). The most prevalent adverse events related to cosmetics were pimples (19.9%, n=78), redness (17.6%, n=69), and eye discomfort (15.8%, n=62). Furthermore, 51.3% (n=201) strongly agreed that cosmetics aid in getting a whiter complexion. CONCLUSIONS The survey concluded that most women preferred cosmetics with a chemical base, which are associated with rashes, redness, and acne. It is important to encourage cosmetovigilance and awareness campaigns among cosmetic product sellers and users.

Attitudes of University Students Towards Intelligence Games Ardahan University Sample

It is thought that the attitudes of students studying at universities towards intelligence games will contribute to digitalization and innovation processes. The aim of the current research is to examine the attitudes of university students towards intelligence games in terms of some variables. The descriptive survey model, which is a quantitative research method, was used in the research. The study group of the research consists of students from the Child Development Program, Medical Documentation and Secretarial Department, Hair Care and Beauty Services Program, Elderly Care Program, Medical Laboratory Techniques Program and Medical Imaging Techniques Program at Ardahan University. ‘Attitude Scale Towards Intelligence Games’ was used as a data collection tool in the research. Data were analyzed with the SPSS 21.0 package program. Based on the results of the 'test of normality' conducted in the data analysis, it was determined that university students showed a normal distribution in the context of age, gender, department and department-based class variables in which their attitudes towards intelligence games were examined; however, they did not show a normal distribution in the context of class and previous education variables for intelligence games. According to the data obtained from the research findings, female students have higher attitudes towards intelligence games at a level that will make a significant difference compared to male students.

MZ세대의 소셜미디어 이용 동기가 헤어관리에 미치는 영향

This study attempted to investigate the influence of motives to use social media on hair care against Gen MZ who have recently emerged as a powerful force in the national economy. For this, an online questionnaire survey was performed against adult men and women in their 18-41 living in Gwangju Metropolitan City from September 20 to October 20, 2022, using NAVER Forms. Among a total of 320 questionnaires distributed, 308 copies excluding 12 poorly answered ones were used for final analysis. The collected data were analyzed by frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha and linear regression analysis, using SPSS 21.0, and the results found the followings: First, the motives to use social media were divided into 4 categories: social motivation, hedonic motivation, self-expression motivation, information-functional motivation. In addition, hair care was classified into hair-interpersonal orientation, pursuit of hair personality, hair consistency and hair conformity. Second, the motives for social media use had a statistically significant influence on hair care (p<.05, p<.01, p<.001). The above results confirm that motives for using social media affect hair care as MZers’ interest in the utilization of social media and hair care is rapidly growing. These days, they tend to express and appeal themselves more actively, using social media. This study also found that such tendency is reflected on their hair care. The study results show that there should be more active marketing and advertisement strategies against Generation MZ who have great purchasing power in beauty industry.

Development of Rice By-Products Based Hair Tonic Mixed with Traditional Thai Herbal Extracts: A Sustainable Approach for Hair Care

Previously, byproducts from Thai rice mill industry including crude riceberry oil (CRO) and broken riceberry (BRB) showed antioxidant and tyrosinase-stimulating activities. This work aimed to develop 5 hair tonic formulae by mixing CRO (0.2-1.0%) and BRB (0.4-2.0%) with three Thai traditional herbal ethanolic extracts (2.0%) of Catunaregam tomentosa (CT), Acacia concinna (AC) and Tinospora crispa (TC) in 4:3:3 (v/v). The results showed that formula 5 (F5) containing 2% BRB, 1.0% CRO and 2% herbal extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging capacity at 16.6 TEAC mg/g, FRAP value at 1.18 FeSO4 mg/g, and ABTS value at 14.9 TEAC mg/g) and tyrosinase-stimulating activity of 38%. This hair tonic was safe to use based on skin irritation test, and stable over 8-week storage at room temperature. Hence, F5 hair tonic (coded (R)) was tested on 20 subjects divided in 2 groups (older and younger age groups) with 10 individuals each in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental design with split-head method where treatments were conducted as intra-individual trial for 10, 20 and 30 days. The hair tonic coded C (Control without BRB, CRO or herbal extracts) and the commercial hair tonic coded G were tested for comparison. Adverse reactions were not noticed during the study. The hair tonic R was able to reduce hair loss by 48-71% in 2 groups with no significant difference from the commercial hair tonic. In comparison with the efficacy in the reduction of gray hair of the 2 groups at each time interval, the 2experimental (R) hair tonic product was found to be more effective in group 2 (younger age). However, the efficacy in the reduction of gray hair was lower than that in the reduction of hair loss. The experimental hair tonic R was more effective in dandruff reduction in group 1 (older age). The R hair tonic product received a satisfactory score of 6.79±0.32 out of 9.0 (moderate-to-high likeness) with the highest score from the aroma and the lowest score from the opaque color resulting from mixing aqueous herbal extract and oil. This is a sustainable way to add value to byproducts from rice mill industry and Thai traditional herbs as cosmetic elements in the formulation of hair products.

Asuhan Kebidanan Pada Bayi Baru Lahir dengan Perawatan Tali Pusat Di Klinik Pratama Medical Center Kota Batam

Newborns also called neonates are individuals who are growing and have just experienced birth trauma and must be able to make adjustments from intra uterine life to extra uterine life. A normal newborn is a baby born at 37-42 weeks gestation and weighs 2,500-4,000 grams. Care taken of newborns is care of hair, eyes, nose, mouth, ears and one of them is umbilical cord care. Umbilical cord care is needed to prevent the umbilical cord from becoming a breeding medium for pathogenic microorganisms: Incorrect care techniques can lead to tetanus neonatorum infection which can affect the length of cord detachment. This type of research is descriptive by applying a case study approach. The implementation of this study was carried out at the Pratama Medical Center Clinic on Mrs. W's baby by providing umbilical cord care to her baby.

Evaluation and formulation of Spirulina platensis proteins for potential applications in hair care products

Spirulina platensis, a blue-green algae belonging to family Phormidiaceae, is well-known for its unique nutritional profile and high protein content. This study aims to isolate its proteins, formulate them into a cream and evaluate its potential as a hair treatment. S. platensis were collected from Nuweiba, Egypt and its protein was extracted, analyzed and used to prepare a cream. The cream was applied on natural hair strands compared to a control cream containing no protein. Both hair strands groups were observed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, as well as, thermal analysis tests including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The SEM images of the test group showed more intact cuticle with the absence of cracks and holes, also, the TEM images showed stronger non-porous cuticle compared to the control group. The AFM images of the test group was smoother with lower roughness average and step height compared to the control group. On the other hand, the raman spectra showed different band intensities for disulfide bonds and C-S bonds as well as increased number of b sheet conformations in the test group which is responsible for the smoothing effect. The thermal analysis tests revealed a clear difference between both groups as an indication of improved keratin structure on the test group. S. platensis proteins could be introduced as a potential candidate for hair care products.

The hair tales of women of color in Northern Manhattan: a qualitative analysis.

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as phthalates, can negatively impact maternal and child health, contributing to impaired fetal growth, preterm birth, and pregnancy complications, as well as increased downstream risks of cardiometabolic disease and breast cancer. Notably, women of color (WOC) are the largest consumers of personal care products, which are a common source of EDC exposure. The Let's Reclaim Our Ancestral Roots (Let's R.O.A.R) Pilot Study developed an educational intervention delivered during pregnancy to promote reduced use of phthalate-containing hair care products (HCPs). This mixed-methods study included: (1) a quantitative analysis and (2) a qualitative analysis of the educational sessions and the semi-structured focus groups to evaluate the factors that influenced the hair care practices and product choices of WOC at various stages of life, including their current pregnancy (hereafter referred to as the hair journey). During the sessions, participants learned about EDCs (with a focus on phthalates), the unequal burden of exposure for WOC, adverse implications of exposure, and exposure reduction strategies. Focus group sessions provided insight into participants' hair journeys from childhood to the current pregnancy and explored factors during their hair product selection process. All sessions were transcribed and imported into NVivo Version 12 for coding and thematic analysis. A total of 46 individuals were enrolled in the study, and 31 participated in an educational session. This current work synthesizes the qualitative analysis of this study. We identified two important life stages (before and after gaining agency over hair care practices and product choices) and three dominant themes related to HCP use: (1) products that impacted the hair journey, which involved all mentions of hair products, (2) factors that influenced the hair journey, which included individuals or entities that shaped participants' hair experiences, and (3) the relationship between hair and sense of self, where sense of self was defined as the alignment of one's inner and outer beauty. The themes intersected and impacted the participants' hair journey. Cultural integration was a sub-theme that overlapped within the dominant themes and participants discussed the effect of traditions on their hair experiences.

Gotu Kola and Banana Flower as an Alternative Shampoo

Investigates the efficacy of incorporating extracts from Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) and Banana Flower (Musa spp.) into natural shampoo formulations. Both botanicals are renowned for their traditional uses and potential benefits for hair care. The study evaluates the cleansing, conditioning, and revitalizing properties of these extracts, emphasizing their eco-friendly and sustainable attributes. Preliminary findings suggest promising results in terms of cleansing efficiency and hair health. The exploration of Gotu Kola and Banana Flower as alternative shampoo ingredients aligns with the growing demand for sustainable and plant-based personal care products, offering potential alternatives to conventional chemical-laden shampoos.

FMCG Industry Customer Segmentation for Cosmetic Product at PT. Paragon Technology and Innovation


 Paragon Technology and Innovation is an Indonesian company within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry that produces cosmetic products. PT Paragon is currently planning to develop new product and need understand further what product shall be prioritized to develop. Customer segmentation could be applied to give initial guide to determine which product to develop first. It is a process that divides customers into groups to find out the characteristics, behavior, or needs of customers for a product. Customer segmentation needs to be conducted because it can be used as supporting data to find out customer characteristics and determine effective and efficient marketing strategies for the company. Segmentation is one of the strategies to face business competition, to retain customers, and to assist management in developing marketing strategies to increase sales and company growth. The purpose of this study is to categorize the customers of PT Paragon Technology and Innovation products based on their characteristics. To determine customer segmentation can be done using the K-Means clustering algorithm. The clustering process is carried out by grouping PT Paragon's customer transaction history data in 2023 in November based on four categories, namely Face Care, Hair Care, Body Wash, and Make Up. The data is analyzed using IBM SPSS to determine the characteristics of each cluster. The population and samples used in the research were 79 and 52. The number of clusters used was 5, namely cluster 1 or struggling man customers, cluster 2 or beauty enthusiast customers, cluster 3 or forever young customers, cluster 4 or beauty careless casual customers and cluster 5 or luxtomer. The main cluster that provides shared value for PT Paragon Technology and Innovation consumers is cluster 2 or beauty enthusiast customers. The main category for shared value is the make up category, referring to the result, we recommend PT Paragon to mainly developa product following that category.

Nanocosmeceuticals: Trends and Recent Advancements in Self Care.

The term cosmetics refers to any substances or products intended for external application on the skin with the aim of protection and better appearance of the skin surface. The skin delivery system promotes the controlled and targeted delivery of active ingredients. The development of this system has been driven by challenges encountered with conventional cosmeceuticals, including low skin retention of active components, limited percutaneous penetration, poor water dispersion of insoluble active ingredients, and instability of effective components. The aim is to create cosmeceuticals that can effectively overcome these issues. This review focuses on various nanocarriers used in cosmeceuticals currently and their applications in skin care, hair care, oral care, and more. The importance of nanotechnology in the sphere of research and development is growing. It provides solutions to various problems faced by conventional technologies, methods, and product formulations thus taking hold of the cosmetic industry as well. Nowadays, consumers are investing in cosmetics only for better appearance thus problems like wrinkles, ageing, hair loss, and dandruff requires to be answered proficiently. Nanocarriers not only enhance the efficacy of cosmeceutical products, providing better and longer-lasting effects, but they also contribute to the improved aesthetic appearance of the products. This dual benefit not only enhances the final quality and efficacy of the product but also increases consumer satisfaction. Additionally, nanocarriers offer protection against UV rays, further adding to the overall benefits of the cosmeceutical product. Figure 1represents various advantages of nanocarriers used in cosmeceuticals. Nanotechnology is also gaining importance due to their high penetration of actives in the deeper layers of skin. It can be said that nanotechnology is taking over all the drawbacks of the traditional products. Thus, nanocarriers discussed in this review are used in nanotechnology to deliver the active ingredient of the cosmeceutical product to the desired site.

Preparation of herbal hair oil exploring the therapeutic benefits of herbs and its evaluation

Background: Herbal cosmetics, particularly herbal hair oils, have gained popularity due to their perceived efficacy and minimal adverse effects. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate herbal hair oils for promoting hair growth. Methodology: Various herbal extracts, including Coconut, Curry leaves, Amla, Fenugreek, and Onion, were prepared and incorporated into virgin Coconut oil. Phytochemical screening, total flavonoid content, organoleptic evaluation, chemical analysis (acid value, saponification value, specific gravity), stability studies, antioxidant assay (DPPH), antimicrobial assay, sensitivity studies, and in-vivo hair growth activity were conducted. Results: Organoleptic evaluation revealed characteristic odors and colors across formulations. Chemical analysis showed acceptable values for acid value (0.68 - 1.86 mg KOH/g), saponification value (117.87 - 224.27 mg KOH/g), and specific gravity (0.865 - 0.933 g/cm^3). Stability studies over 45 days demonstrated consistent physicochemical properties. The DPPH assay indicated dose-dependent antioxidant activity, with inhibition ranging from 13.8% to 66.5%. Antimicrobial assay showed inhibition zones ranging from 6 mm to 20 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. Sensitivity studies exhibited no adverse reactions. In-vivo hair growth activity demonstrated significant improvements compared to controls. Discussion: The formulated herbal hair oils exhibited promising physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial efficacy, safety, and hair growth promotion in animal models. These findings suggest their potential as natural remedies for hair care. Conclusion: Herbal hair oils formulated in this study show significant potential for promoting hair growth and addressing hair-related concerns. Whereas, formulation F3 shown significant efficacy across multiple parameters among the formulations. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to validate their efficacy and safety for human use.

Kajian Pemanfaatan Tanaman Tradisional Indonesia untuk Perawatan Kulit atau Rambut

Ethnobotany is a scientific approach used to explore the potential of plant species traditionally utilized by communities. This study aims to analyze the utilization of plant types and parts, as well as their phytochemical contents, for skin and hair care among the Indonesian population. The data from this research enriches the understanding of the rich ethnobotanical knowledge and practices related to skin and hair care among the Indonesian populace. The methodology employed involves a combination of survey methods and comprehensive literature analysis. Survey data was collected from 62 respondents from 22 different geographic regions in Indonesia. The survey results revealed the usage of 15 plant species from 13 families by the Indonesian community for skin or hair health maintenance. Based on literature review, it was found that most of these plants contain compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins. According to the literature study, these compounds have been proven to provide significant benefits in skin or hair care.

Kelayakan Shampo Berbahan Dasar Lidah Buaya Dan Jeruk Nipis Untuk Perawatan Rambut Rontok

Hair is an important part of head protection from exposure to outside air. The problem of hair loss is suffered by many people. Aloe vera is a natural ingredient that is traditionally used to overcome the problem of hair loss. Some studies show the use of aloe vera can be used as an alternative hair care that plays a role in treating dry hair, strengthening hair roots, and reducing hair loss. Lime is one of the medicinal plants that can be used to kill bacteria that cause dandruff. Objective: Knowing the effectiveness of aloe vera gel extract on hair growth so that hair does not fall out and the scalp is clean anti-dandruff. Method: Experimental research with 9 panelists, including 2 lecturers, 3 general public, and 5 students.
 Based on the results of this study shows the effect of the use of aloe vera and lime in scalp and hair care on increasing the results of reducing hair loss.Based on experimental results from several samples selected on color with panelists preferring Fr 3, which is attractive with a score of 44.44%. The aroma level with panelists liked on Fr 3 very distinctive smell with a score of 77.77%. The froth power with panelists preferring Fr 3 is quite frothy with a score of 33.33%. The favorability level with the panelists likes FR 3 is very like with a score of 55.55%.

The Impact of Job Satisfaction on Brand Loyalty in Franchise Hair Shops

While the economic level is improved due to the industrial development of modern society, the beauty industry consists of human resources with skilled technology, and securing it leads to an increase in the economic power of the beauty industry and the success or failure of management. Beauty service is an industry that is highly dependent on human resources and deals with the job satisfaction of its members as an important issue. Studies on the factors of job satisfaction and loyalty of beauty workers have been reported, but studies examining the relationship between job satisfaction of franchise hair shops and brand loyalty are relatively limited. In this study, a total of 664 data from franchise hair salon workers were applied to the empirical analysis to investigate the effect of job satisfaction of franchise hair shops on brand loyalty, and SPSS 22.0 was used to analyze the research problem, and positive results were derived for each factor. Based on the research results, it aims to find ways to accumulate empirical data and improve management performance in the field of hair care, and it is also necessary and meaningful to provide implications for subsequent research in the field of beauty.

Generation MZ Beauty Care Behavior on Semi-Permanent Makeup Purchase Intention

Recently, generation MZ has emerged as a primary consumption group. Under these circumstances, this study attempted to investigate the influence of generation MZ beauty care behavior on semi-permanent makeup purchase intention against men and women born in 1980-2005, living in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Daejeon, Sejong, Chungcheongbuk-do and other regions, and the results found the followings: With regard to differences by generation, generation M was higher in general beauty care behavior (<i>p</i><.05), makeup behavior (<i>p</i><.001) and body shaping behavior (<i>p</i><.001) while generation Z was higher in skin care behavior (<i>p</i><.05). When analyzed by occupation, ‘services/sales’ was high in hair care behavior (<i>p</i><.001), skin care behavior (<i>p</i><.001), makeup behavior (<i>p</i><.001) and general beauty care behavior (<i>p</i><.001) while ‘profession’ was the highest in body shaping behavior (<i>p</i><.001). In terms of beauty care behavior by semi-permanent makeup experience, it was higher in all categories when the respondents had semi-permanent makeup before. In terms of the effects of beauty care behavior on semi-permanent makeup purchase intention, makeup behavior was the greatest, followed by hair care behavior, nail care behavior and body shaping behavior, showing positive effects with statistical significance. The above results show that generation MZ beauty care behavior is closely related with semi-permanent makeup purchase intention. Therefore, it is anticipated that the study results would be available as basic data for marketing in semi-permanent makeup markets and make a contribution to the growth of customer-oriented beauty industry.

Support for dermatological research in Sub-Saharan Africa: insights from African hair and skin research programs.

The structure and physiology of skin and hair in people of African ancestry are different from other ethnic categories and studies from other continents cannot necessarily be extrapolated to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to the differences in genetics, lifestyle, climate, cultures, and hair and skin care practices. The aim of this report is to highlight the recent advances in local skin and hair research in SSA from a grant program. African Hair and Skin Research Grants from an industrial sponsor were awarded between 2013 and 2022 on five main topics: acne, hair and scalp, keloid scars, atopic dermatitis, and air pollution. A literature search in Scopus identified publications on these topics in African or black skin in SSA and worldwide to provide insight into the impact of the program. The number of publications from around the world on the skin and hair of people of African ancestry has increased significantly over the past 30 years on all five topics, especially as a result studies conducted in the United States. Fewer studies have been conducted in SSA but there has been an increasing number of publications over the past 10 years, especially from South Africa. Scientific and clinical partnerships between the industry, academia, and public healthcare sectors have contributed to a steady increase in hair and skin publications from SSA, which may be useful for the development of tailored products and public educational campaigns to raise awareness of the risks of using inappropriate products.

Real-time evaluation of terpene emissions and exposures during the use of scented wax products in residential buildings with PTR-TOF-MS

Scented wax products, such as candles and wax warmers/melts, are popular fragranced consumer products that are commonly used in residential buildings. As scented wax products are intentionally fragranced to produce pleasant smellscapes for occupants, they may represent an important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to indoor atmospheres. The aim of this study is to evaluate terpene emission factors (EFs) and inhalation intake fractions (iFs) for scented wax products to better understand their impact on indoor chemistry and chemical exposures. Full-scale emission experiments were conducted in the Purdue zEDGE Test House using a variety of scented candles (n = 5) and wax warmers/melts (n = 14) under different outdoor air exchange rates (AERs). Terpene concentrations were measured in real-time using a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS). PTR-TOF-MS measurements revealed that scented candle and wax warmer/melt products emit a variety of monoterpenes (C10H16) and oxygen-containing monoterpenoids (C10H14O, C10H16O, C10H18O, C10H20O), with peak concentrations in the range of 10−1 to 102 ppb. Monoterpene EFs were much greater for scented wax warmers/melts (C10H16 EFs ∼ 102 mg per g wax consumed) compared to scented candles (C10H16 EFs ∼ 10−1 to 100 mg per g wax consumed). Significant emissions of reactive terpenes from both products, along with nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2) from candles, depleted indoor ozone (O3) concentrations. Terpene iFs were similar between the two products (iFs ∼ 103 ppm) and increased with decreasing outdoor AER. Terpene iFs during concentration decay periods were similar to, or greater than, iFs during active emission periods for outdoor AERs ≤ 3.0 h−1. Overall, scented wax warmers/melts were found to release greater quantities of monoterpenes compared to other fragranced consumer products used in the home, including botanical disinfectants, hair care products, air fresheners, and scented sprays.

Poly (γ) glutamic acid: a unique microbial biopolymer with diverse commercial applicability.

Microbial biopolymers have emerged as promising solutions for environmental pollution-related human health issues. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a natural anionic polymeric compound, is composed of highly viscous homo-polyamide of D and L-glutamic acid units. The extracellular water solubility of PGA biopolymer facilitates its complete biodegradation and makes it safe for humans. The unique properties have enabled its applications in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, foods, and other domains. It is applied as a thickener, taste-masking agent, stabilizer, texture modifier, moisturizer, bitterness-reducing agent, probiotics cryoprotectant, and protein crystallization agent in food industries. γ-PGA is employed as a biological adhesive, drug carrier, and non-viral vector for safe gene delivery in tissue engineering, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. It is also used as a moisturizer to improve the quality of hair care and skincare cosmetic products. In agriculture, it serves as an ideal stabilizer, environment-friendly fertilizer synergist, plant-growth promoter, metal biosorbent in soil washing, and animal feed additive to reduce body fat and enhance egg-shell strength.