While candles and wax melts may be nice, a new issue has revealed itself: indoor air pollution. An investigation from Purdue University found that when scented products are heated, tiny particles are released, creating as much contamination as a standard car engine. These specks can make their way into the body, bloodstream, and even the brain. The main culprits, the study found, were flame-free candles and wax melts.
Research shows that these products emit over one million nanoparticles per cubic centimeter. Not only that, they alter indoor air chemistry. “A forest is a pristine environment, but if you’re using cleaning and aromatherapy products full of chemically manufactured scents to recreate a forest in your home, you’re actually creating a tremendous amount of indoor air pollution that you shouldn’t be breathing in,” says Nusrat Jung, who is an assistant professor from Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, where the study took place. These discoveries show the need for a closer look at how we design buildings, HVAC systems, and the products that cause pollution. For now, it might be best to decrease your use of them and keep ventilation open when you do.
Related Stories:
https://newatlas.com/environment/indoor-air-pollution-scented-terpenes/
Air inside your home may be more polluted than outside due to everyday chemical products
https://www.health.com/wax-melts-indoor-air-pollution-11684728
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3018511/
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