Scented Products Research Articles

Rapid Nucleation and Growth of Indoor Atmospheric Nanocluster Aerosol during the Use of Scented Volatile Chemical Products in Residential Buildings.

Scented volatile chemical products (sVCPs) are frequently used indoors. We conducted field measurements in a residential building to investigate new particle formation (NPF) from sVCP emissions. State-of-the-art instrumentation was used for real-time monitoring of indoor atmospheric nanocluster aerosol (NCA; 1-3 nm particles) size distributions and terpene mixing ratios. We integrated our NCA measurements with a comprehensive material balance model to analyze sVCP-nucleated indoor NCA dynamics. Our results reveal that sVCPs significantly increase indoor terpene mixing ratios (10-1,000 ppb), exceeding those in outdoor forested environments. The emitted terpenes react with indoor atmospheric O3 and initiate indoor NPF, resulting in nucleation rates as high as ∼105 cm-3 s-1 and condensational growth rates up to 300 nm h-1; these are orders of magnitude higher than those reported during outdoor NPF events. Notably, high particle nucleation rates significantly increase indoor atmospheric NCA concentrations (105-108 cm-3), and high growth rates drive their survival and growth to sizes that efficiently reach the deepest regions of the human respiratory system. We found sVCP-nucleated NCA to cause respiratory exposures and dose rates comparable to or exceeding those from primary aerosol sources such as gas stoves and diesel engines, highlighting their significant impact on indoor atmospheric environments.

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.

49 Subjective and Objective Psychophysical Olfactory Dysfunction in Men Living with HIV

Objective:Olfactory dysfunction can influence nutritional intake, the detection of environmental hazards, and quality of life. Prior research has found discordance between subjective and objective measures of olfaction. In people living with HIV (PLWH), olfactory dysfunction is widely reported; however, few studies have examined concordance between subjective olfactory self-ratings and performance on an objective psychophysical measure of olfaction and associated factors in men living with HIV (MLWH).Participants and Methods:MLWH (n=51, mean age=54 years, 66.7% Black) completed two subjective olfaction ratings (two 5-point Likert scales), the Smell Identification Test (SIT), cognitive measures (HVLT-R, TMT), and self-report questionnaires assessing smell habits, mood, cognitive failures, and quality of life. Participants were categorized into one of four groups: true positives (TP; impaired subjective olfaction and objective olfaction dysfunction), false negatives (FN; intact subjective olfaction and objective olfaction dysfunction), false positives (FP; impaired subjective olfaction and objective normosmia), and true negatives (TN; intact subjective olfaction and normosmia). Established formulas were used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of subjective olfaction, and t-tests and ANOVA were used to examine potential demographic, clinical, and cognitive factors contributing to discordance between subjective and objective olfaction dysfunction.Results:Across both subjective self-report items, 35.3% reported olfactory dysfunction, whereas 60.8% had objective olfaction dysfunction on the SIT (score < 33). Black MLWH had significantly higher rates of subjective (Black 41.2% vs. White 35.3%) and objective (Black 73.5% vs. White 35.3%) olfactory dysfunction (X2(1)=9.22, p=.002). We found discordance between subjective and objective olfaction measures, with 29.4% of the sample having objective olfaction dysfunction and not recognizing it (FN). In comparison, 3.9% with self-rated olfaction impairment had normal objective olfaction scores (FP). Additionally, there was concordance in subjective self-reports compared with objective olfaction, with 35.3% correctly identifying normal olfaction (TN) and 31.4% correctly identifying olfactory dysfunction (TP). Those unaware of olfaction dysfunction (FN) reported using less scented products in daily life on the Smell Habits Questionnaire. Although the FN group had faster TMT scores, these findings were no longer significant after the removal of three outliers in the TP group (e.g., time to complete greater than 350 seconds).Conclusions:Our findings cohere with work in healthy older adults, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease, documenting that subjective olfaction may inadequately capture the full range of a person’s olfactory status. We extend these findings to a sample of MLWH, in which discordance rates ranged from 35-61% for subjective and objective olfactory dysfunction. Unawareness of olfactory dysfunction in MLWH was associated with less daily smell habits and paradoxically faster TMT performance. A higher number of smell habits in the TP group indicate that more frequent odor exposure may increase sensitivity to olfactory declines. Future studies with larger samples will be helpful in understanding the full nature of these relationships. Lastly, given that one-third of the sample had discordance between subjective and objective olfaction, objective olfaction measures may be useful to consider in the neuropsychological assessment and standard clinical care for PLWH.

A Pilot Study of Self-Rated and Psychophysical Olfactory Dysfunction in Men Living with HIV.

Olfactory loss is associated with poor quality of life, malnutrition, and increased risk of depression, yet few studies have examined unawareness of olfactory dysfunction in men living with HIV (MLWH). MLWH (n = 51) completed olfaction self-ratings, psychophysical odor identification testing, cognitive measures, and questionnaires assessing smell habits, mood, cognitive failures, and quality of life. The sensitivity and specificity of olfactory self-ratings was calculated, and t-tests were used to examine factors contributing to discordance between self-rated and psychophysical olfaction dysfunction. We found that 33.3% (17 of 51 MLWH) of our sample demonstrated discordance between self-reported and psychophysical olfactory scores. Those unaware of olfaction dysfunction reported using less scented products in daily life but showed no other differences across demographic, clinical, or cognitive indices. Our results cohere with prior studies of cognitively normal older adults, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson's disease, which found that olfactory self-ratings may inadequately capture the full range of a person's olfactory status. Our work extends these findings to MLWH, with discordance rates ranging from 35 to 61% for self-rated and psychophysical olfactory dysfunction. Given the differing rates of self-rated and psychophysical olfaction in our sample, psychophysical olfactory measures may be useful to consider in the neuropsychological assessment and clinical care of PLWH. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12078-022-09305-x.

Multifunctional MgO/HKUST-1 Composite for Capture, Catalysis, and Cyclic Cataluminescence Detection of Esters All-In-One to Rapidly Identify Scented Products.

The integration of metallic oxide and metal-organic frameworks has attracted considerable attention as obtained composite materials because they show synergistic effects in applications of catalysis and sensing. Herein, we developed the hybrid MgO and HKUST-1 for efficient capture, catalysis, and cyclic cataluminescence (CCTL) detection of esters all-in-one to rapidly identify scented products. The multifunctional MgO/HKUST-1 composite with high CCTL activity was synthesized and characterized. The multifunctional MgO/HKUST-1 composite acts as an enrichment material for ester capture and serves as a catalyst, assisting the analyte to trigger multistage signals. The multistage signals of ester-containing scented products also satisfy the exponential decay equation with a certain τ-value. The τ-values obtained by the CCTL system were applied to identify the brands of essential oils. The working temperature served as the sensor element to obtain various τ-values. The τ-values constituted a digital code to label the different brands of cigarettes with the same aroma type. The multistage signals could be used to distinguish the origin regions of essential oils and tobacco. This work combines the CCTL strategy with the sample pretreatment, opening up a new direction to develop CCL and providing a new platform to rapidly identify ester-containing scented products.

Skin exposure to scented products used in daily life and fragrance contact allergy in the European general population - The EDEN Fragrance Study.

BackgroundFragrances are widely used in scented products used in daily life with the potential to induce skin sensitization.ObjectiveTo evaluate exposure to scented products and to explore associations between exposure and fragrance contact allergy.MethodsA cross‐sectional study on individuals from 18 to 74 years of age, who were randomly selected from the general population in five European countries. A random sample (N = 3119) was patch tested and interviewed on exposure to scented products.ResultsFemale participants were strongly associated with exposure to scented products relative to male participants. Participants age 40 years and older showed an inverse association with exposure to scented products. Compared to Sweden, The Netherlands followed by Germany showed the highest overall exposure to scented products. Sensitive skin was associated with exposure to scented products and with fragrance allergy. In univariable regression analysis, exposure to leave‐on products and to specific scented product subgroups was significantly associated with fragrance allergy.ConclusionExposure to scented products depends primarily on sex and age. Female sex and sensitive skin are relevant indicators for developing fragrance allergy. Because aggregate exposure, especially to scented leave‐on products, may enhance the prevalence of contact allergy to fragrances, further investigations into exposure amounts and frequencies is warranted.

Fragranced laundry products and emissions from dryer vents: implications for air quality and health

Fragranced laundry products emit numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including terpenes such as limonene. Fragrance emissions have been associated with adverse health effects such as asthma attacks and breathing difficulties. Further, fragrance terpenes are primary indoor air pollutants that can react with other compounds and contribute to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. This paper examines volatile emissions and exposures from fragranced laundry products, and the implications for air quality and health. The paper synthesizes and analyzes data from studies conducted across the United States (US) and Australia (AU), providing results in three main themes: adverse health effects associated with exposure to fragranced laundry products, volatile emissions from fragranced and fragrance-free laundry products, and reductions in VOC emissions by switching from fragranced to fragrance-free products. Across the US and AU, 12.5% and 6.1% of the general population and 28.9% and 12.1% of asthmatics report health problems (respectively) when exposed to scented laundry products coming from a dryer vent. Among the volatile emissions from products, terpenes were the most prevalent VOCs detected in all fragranced laundry products; however, terpenes were absent in all fragrance-free products. By switching from fragranced to fragrance-free laundry products, dryer vent emissions of limonene can be reduced up to 99.7%. As context for significance, switching from fragranced to fragrance-free laundry detergent could reduce limonene emissions from dryer vents per household by an estimated 1.68 g/year. For the study area of metropolitan Melbourne, this represents a reduction in limonene emissions by an estimated 1.58 tons/year. Results from these analyses point to a promising way to reduce emissions and exposures to volatile compounds, and create potential improvements for air quality and health.

Breath carbonyl levels in a human population of seven hundred participants

Oxidative stress is associated with numerous health conditions and disorders, and aldehydes are known biomarkers of oxidative stress that can be non-invasively measured in exhaled human breath. Few studies report breath aldehyde levels in human populations, and none claim participant numbers in the hundreds or more. Further, the breath community must first define the existing aldehyde concentration variance in a normal population to understand when these levels are significantly perturbed by exogenous stressors or health conditions. In this study, we collected breath samples from 692 participants and quantified C4–C10 straight chain aldehyde levels. C9 aldehyde was the most abundant in breath, followed by C6. C4 and C5 appear to have bimodal distributions. Post hoc, we mined our dataset for other breath carbonyls captured by our assay, which involves elution of breath samples onto a solid phase extraction cartridge, derivatization and liquid chromatography–quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC–qTOF). We found a total of 21 additional derivatized compounds. Using self-reported demographic factors from our participants, we found no correlation between these breath carbonyls and age, gender, body mass index (BMI), ethnicity or smoking habit (tobacco and marijuana). This work was preceded by a small confounders study, which was intended to refine our breath collection procedure. We found that breath aldehyde levels can be affected by participants’ using scented hygiene products such as lotions and mouthwashes, while collecting consecutive breath samples, rinsing the mouth with water, and filtering inspired air did not have an effect. Using these parameters to guide our sampling, subjects were instructed to avoid the prior conditions to provide a breath sample for our study.

Prenatal use of cleaning and scented products and its association with childhood asthma, asthma symptoms, and mental health and developmental comorbidities

Introduction Occupational use of cleaning chemicals has been related to asthma in adults. However, little information is available on the effect of non-occupational use of cleaning products during pregnancy on childhood asthma. This study examines the association between prenatal exposure to cleaning and scented products with childhood asthma, asthma symptoms, and mental and developmental comorbidities among low-income families in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods Four hundred children from the Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital were included in the study. Parents’ or guardians reported current asthma, asthma-related symptoms, mental health problems, and behavioral problems among the children. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between the use of cleaning and scented products during pregnancy and seven different outcome variables. Results The odds of nocturnal cough were significantly elevated among children whose mothers reported the use of cleaning products (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.15–4.31) or scented products (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.22–3.77) during pregnancy. Mental health comorbidities were threefold elevated (OR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.74–5.35) among children whose mothers reported using scented products during pregnancy. There was no statistically significant association of the prenatal use of cleaning or scented products with current asthma status or nocturnal symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness among children. Conclusions The study results indicate prenatal exposure to cleaning and scented products is associated with nocturnal cough among children. The study also suggests an association between prenatal use of scented products and mental health comorbidities among children.

Unlocking competitiveness through scent names: A data-driven approach

Naming a product’s scent is a key decision. The same scent can be interpreted differently when different names are assigned to it. Thus, choosing the right scent name can increase competitiveness by successfully appealing to desired consumer segments. We propose that such decisions should be data driven (i.e., on the basis of competitors’ offerings and consumers’ preferences) and provide guidelines on how to assign scent names to products in home care and personal care product categories, focusing on capturing market segments. Based on a large web-based dataset of scented products across multiple brands and categories, this article is the first to construct a typology of scent names empirically: unscented, concrete, abstract, and proprietary. After examining firms’ assortments of scented products with different names across 12 categories and comparing them with consumers’ preferences concerning such assortments, we identify major gaps. Overall, consumers demand far more unscented products and products with abstract names than currently offered; however, preferences for products with proprietary names are mostly aligned. Strategic recommendations center on naming scented products to better align supply and demand in the scented product market and capture new market opportunities.

Analysis of odour compounds from scented consumer products using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-olfactometry

Scented consumer products are being bought in increasing amounts and gaining more popularity. There is, however, relatively little information available about their ingredients, emissions and allergenic potential. Frequently, a mixture of different fragrance substances and not solely an individual substance contributes to the overall desired smell. The aim of this study was to investigate the odorous volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) in consumer products containing fragrances. Over 44 products were selected: various scented candles, printing products with different scent types and other products types particularly meant to be used indoors. Measurements were carried out in a desiccator. Air samples were collected on thermal desorption tubes to determine the released fragrance substances by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Moreover, gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) was used to obtain sensory data and to ensure no important odorant was overlooked. Using both methods it was possible to distinguish between odour active and inactive compounds and subsequently to identify almost 300 different odorants across all scented products. Besides the advantage of differentiation, as the human nose is a very sensitive detector, GC-O was found to be a useful tool for detecting traces and chosen target compounds. One focus in this study lay on the 26 EU-regulated fragrance allergens to prove their relevance in scented consumer goods. In total, 18 of them were identified, with at least one substance being present in almost every product. Benzyl alcohol, cinnamaldehyde, citronellol, eugenol, linalool and limonene were the prevalently detected allergens. Particularly linalool and limonene were observed in over 50% of the products. In addition, eugenol appeared to be one of the most frequently detected compounds in trace-level concentrations in the candle emissions.

Characterization of hazardous and odorous volatiles emitted from scented candles before lighting and when lit

Scented candles are known to release various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including both pleasant aromas and toxic components both before lighting (off) and when lit (on). In this study, we explored the compositional changes of volatiles from scented candles under various settings to simulate indoor use. Carbonyl compounds and other VOCs emitted from six different candle types were analyzed under ‘on/off’ conditions. The six candle types investigated were: (1) Clean cotton (CT), (2) Floral (FL), (3) Kiwi melon (KW), (4) Strawberry (SB), (5) Vanilla (VN), and (6) Plain (PL). Although a large number of chemicals were released both before lighting and when lit, their profiles were noticeably distinguishable. Before lighting, various esters (n=30) showed the most dominant emissions. When lit, formaldehyde was found to have the highest emission concentration of 2098ppb (SB), 1022ppb (CT), and 925ppb (PL). In most lit scented candles, there was a general tendency to show increased concentrations of low boiling point compounds. For some scented candle products, the emission of volatiles occurred strongly both before lighting and when lit. For instance, in terms of TVOC (ppbC), the highest concentrations were observed from the KW product with their values of 12,742 (on) and 2766 ppbC (off). As such, the results suggest that certain scented candle products should act as potent sources of VOC emission in indoor environment, regardless of conditions – whether being lit or not.

Effects of Brand Name of Scented Products on Product Preference: Focusing on Mediating Effect of Interest and Moderating effect of Product Types

Effects of Brand Name of Scented Products on Product Preference: Focusing on Mediating Effect of Interest and Moderating effect of Product Types

Odor valence linearly modulates attractiveness, but not age assessment, of invariant facial features in a memory-based rating task.

Scented cosmetic products are used across cultures as a way to favorably influence one's appearance. While crossmodal effects of odor valence on perceived attractiveness of facial features have been demonstrated experimentally, it is unknown whether they represent a phenomenon specific to affective processing. In this experiment, we presented odors in the context of a face battery with systematic feature manipulations during a speeded response task. Modulatory effects of linear increases of odor valence were investigated by juxtaposing subsequent memory-based ratings tasks – one predominantly affective (attractiveness) and a second, cognitive (age). The linear modulation pattern observed for attractiveness was consistent with additive effects of face and odor appraisal. Effects of odor valence on age perception were not linearly modulated and may be the result of cognitive interference. Affective and cognitive processing of faces thus appear to differ in their susceptibility to modulation by odors, likely as a result of privileged access of olfactory stimuli to affective brain networks. These results are critically discussed with respect to potential biases introduced by the preceding speeded response task.

Determinations of airborne synthetic musks by polyurethane foam coupled with triple quadrupole gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometer

Synthetic musk is widely used in various scented consumer products. However, the exposure via inhalation is often ignored due to pleasant smells. In addition, the information regarding the distribution of synthetic musk in air is limited. Hence, this research is aimed to develop a highly sensitive and widely applicable method for the determination of airborne synthetic musk. In this study, polyurethane foam (PUF) and filter were employed for active air sampling. Microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and nitrogen evaporator were performed for sample preparation. A gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (GC/MS–MS) with specific multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transition pairs was applied for sample analysis. Compared with using selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode traditionally, the sensitivities were improved in this study about an order at least. In terms of air concentration, as low as 0.48ngm−3 can be determined when sampling at 3.5Lmin−1 for 8h. The method established was further applied to the analysis of synthetic musk compounds in air samples collected in a cosmetics plant. The results showed that the airborne concentrations of gaseous polycyclic musk, gaseous nitro-musk, and particle-phase polycyclic musk were 6.4×102, 4.0×101 and 3.1×102ngm−3, respectively. Meanwhile, Cashmeran, Celstolide, Galaxolide, and Tonalide were found as the dominant musk compounds in the factory investigated.

Exposure of scented candle combustion aerosol on stress-induced cadiopulmonary injury

Background: Social stress may induce cardiopulmonary injury by disrupting the body’s homeostasis. Scented candles have been used to relieve stress. However, numerous air pollutants produced from burning scented candles may cause poor health outcomes. Aims: To investigate effects of scented candle combustion products exposure on social stress-induced cardiopulmonary injury in mice. Methods: Mice with social disruption stress (SDR) were exposed to combustion products of 3% lavender scented candles (4.5 h/d, 5 d/wk) in an exposure chamber for different time course (4 or 8 wk). Results: Exposure to combustion products of scented candle failed to reduce serum corticosterone level in SDR-treated mice in 4 and 8 weeks. Exposure to combustion products of scented candle time-dependently enhanced SDR-induced pulmonary edema, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-1beta levels, and nuclear factor (NF)-kB activity in lung. Further, combustion products of scented candle time-dependently increased lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and heart type creatine kinase isoenzyme levels in serum, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, and B-type natriuretic peptide levels in SDR-treated mice. Conclusions: Exposure to combustion products of 3% lavender scented candle may time-dependently exacerbated social stress-induced cardiopulmonary injury.

The association between personal care products and lung function

PurposeChemical exposures are important determinants of respiratory health. The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the use of personal care products, which may contain respirable components, and lung function. MethodsUsing questionnaire and spirometry data collected during the Canadian Health Measures population survey, the association was tested between 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEVl) and forced vital capacity (FVC) expressed as a percentage of predicted, and the frequency of use of personal care products categorized as eye makeup, fragrances, hairstyle products, lipstick, and scented body products. ResultsFive thousand sixteen of the 5604 participants in the survey reported using at least one personal care product in the past 3 months. Among men and women, an interquartile increase in hairstyle products was associated with an approximate 2% decrease in both FEV1 and FVC (P < .05). Among women, each product category was associated with a significant decrease in lung function with the largest observed effect being a 4.08% (95% confidence interval, 7.71–0.45) decrease in FVC associated with an interquartile range increase in the frequency of use of scented body products. ConclusionsThis study provides data suggesting that using personal care products may have a small adverse effect on lung function. Further research is warranted to investigate this possibility.

The association between contact sensitization and atopic disease by linkage of a clinical database and a nationwide patient registry

Experimental studies have shown that individuals with atopic dermatitis are likely to have suppressed contact sensitivity secondary to their disease whereas some clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that individuals with atopic dermatitis might have a higher prevalence of contact sensitization than controls. The objective was to study the association between contact sensitization and, respectively, atopic dermatitis and asthma using clinical databases. Record linkage of two different registers was performed: (i) a tertiary hospital register of dermatitis patient's patch tested for contact sensitivity and (ii) the Danish National Patient Register containing nationwide hospital discharge diagnoses and outpatient contacts. An inverse association was found between contact sensitization and, respectively, presumed severe atopic dermatitis (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61-0.81) and asthma (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.42-0.90) when linkage was performed. Inverse associations were found for all groups of chemicals and metals except for sensitization to fragrances and topical drugs where positive associations were identified. A significant positive association between fragrance sensitization and presumed mild-moderate atopic dermatitis was also found when data from hospital register only were used, suggesting an overall higher prevalence of fragrance sensitization in patients with atopic dermatitis. Our findings support that patients with severe atopic dermatitis and asthma have an overall lower prevalence of contact sensitization when compared with controls, whereas mild-to-moderate disease does not suppress contact sensitization. The prevalence of contact sensitization to fragrance chemicals was higher in patients with atopic dermatitis. Patients should be instructed to avoid scented moisturizers and products containing highly sensitizing substances.

Heart Rate Variability in Association with Frequent Use of Household Sprays and Scented Products in SAPALDIA

Background: Household cleaning products are associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes, but the cardiovascular health effects are largely unknown.Objective: We determined if long-term use of household sprays and scented products at home was associated with reduced heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic cardiac dysfunction.Methods: We recorded 24-hr electrocardiograms in a cross-sectional survey of 581 Swiss adults, ≥ 50 years of age, who answered a detailed questionnaire regarding their use of household cleaning products in their homes. The adjusted average percent changes in standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals in 24 hr (24-hr SDNN) and total power (TP) were estimated in multiple linear regression in association with frequency [< 1, 1–3, or 4–7 days/week, unexposed (reference)] of using cleaning sprays, air freshening sprays, and scented products.Results: Decreases in 24-hr SDNN and TP were observed with frequent use of all product types, but the strongest reductions were associated with air freshening sprays. Compared with unexposed participants, we found that using air freshening sprays 4–7 days/week was associated with 11% [95% confidence interval (CI): –20%, –2%] and 29% (95% CI: –46%, –8%) decreases in 24-hr SDNN and TP, respectively. Inverse associations of 24-SDNN and TP with increased use of cleaning sprays, air freshening sprays, and scented products were observed mainly in participants with obstructive lung disease (p < 0.05 for interactions).Conclusions: In predominantly older adult women, long-term frequent use of household spray and scented products was associated with reduced HRV, which suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular health hazards. People with preexisting pulmonary conditions may be more susceptible.

Fragranced Products and VOCs

In the article “Scented Products Emit a Bouquet of VOCs,” Potera (2011) gave a broad overview of the work of Steinemann et al. (2010) regarding the quantification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fragranced products. Unfortunately, crucial facts were omitted about the materials cited and the use of alternative substances. Potera (2011) quoted Steinemann et al. (2010), noting that some of the VOCs detected “are classified as toxic or hazardous by federal laws” and “a single fragrance in a product can . . . react with ozone in ambient air to form dangerous secondary pollutants.” Potera stated that limonene reacts with ozone to form formaldehyde but failed to mention that both limonene and pinene are naturally occurring materials found in citrus fruits and pine trees, respectively (Wei and Shibamoto 2007). Fragrance materials are naturally volatile; otherwise, they would not be detectable (Cometto-Muniz et al. 1998). Langer et al. (2008) showed that exposure to limonene from peeling an orange is far greater than using limonene-scented cleaning products. These authors further showed that secondary organic pollutants formed from cleaning products exist in the lowest range of exposure and that a higher concentration of particulates is formed by peeling an orange. Potera (2011) quoted Steinemann et al. (2010), noting that “133 unique VOCs [were] identified among 25 products”; however, not all of the 133 VOCs are used as fragrance materials. For example, the highest reported concentration of d-limonene was 135 mg/m3 (unidentified air freshener) in an experiment using conditions completely atypical of consumer use (Steinemann et al. 2010). Although, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not issue safe exposure limits, they report those from other agencies [National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)]. As of today, none of these agencies has issued a limit value for d-limonene. Germany (NIOSH 2005) and Sweden (International Agency for Research on Cancer 1999) have established limits for d-limonene of 110 mg/m3 and 150 mg/m3, respectively. Even under the adverse testing conditions reported by Steinemann et al. (2010), the d-limonene concentration of 135 mg/m3 still falls within safe exposure. Potera (2011) cited a telephone survey by Caress and Steinemann (2009) that attributed consumer health problems to the use of scented products; however, the percentages were not in context with the total population surveyed. Of those surveyed, 19% reported unspecified health problems and 11% noted irritation, all of which were subjectively ascribed to the use of scented laundry products (Caress and Steinemann 2009). While consumer complaints should be taken seriously, one may question the investigators’ acceptance of these self-assessments in the absence of objective confirmation by medical testing. Potera (2011) quoted Claudia Miller, who stated that “we need to find unscented alternatives ….” The fact is a variety of scented and unscented consumer products exist; thus, it is unnecessary to use potentially dangerous home mixtures, such as vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which was recommended as a replacement for commercial cleaning products (Potera 2011). However, the safe exposure level for acetic acid, according to the ACGIH, NIOSH, and OSHA, is 25 mg/m3 over 8 hr (OSHA 2007), which suggests a higher toxicity than for limonene. Health effects resulting from inhalation exposure to acetic acid include respiratory irritation, coughing, headache, and dizziness (Iowa State University 2000). In addition, symptoms include pulmonary edema, chest pain, and hypotension; in contrast, d-limonene has not been associated with the development of any of these symptoms. Lacking published inhalation safety information for sodium bicarbonate, NIOSH recommends using a respirator when working with the dry particulate form (Mallinckrodt Baker Inc. 2009). Potera (2011) ended her article by quoting Claudia Miller’s statement that “the best smell is no smell.” This is a very subjective assessment and cannot be characterized as an objective, science-based conclusion supported by available data.