The EPA has listed indoor air quality as one of the top 5 environmental risks to our health.
The average person spends 90% of their time indoors. So the air quality inside your home is crucial to your overall health. However, most homes have inferior air quality, which is alarming considering the time spent indoors.
Many factors contribute to the air quality inside our homes, many coming from the house itself. Building supplies leach chemicals that contribute to poor air quality, including carpeting, paint, pressed wood products, glues, resigns, fabrics, etc. Other primary sources include personal care products and cleaning products. Environmental Working Group’s investigation of more than 2,000 cleaning supplies on the American market has found that many contain substances linked to serious health problems such as asthma, cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, allergies and irritation, and accidents such as burns and poisonings.
While we can’t always control all the building materials used in our homes, we can control the products we use inside. One of the easiest ways to start is swapping out air fresheners like plug-ins and sprays with an aromatherapy diffuser.
Air Fresheners & Potential Health Risks
Commercial air freshening products such as incense, candles, electric diffusers, and gels are used in hopes of improving hygiene or indoor scent. However, it has been discovered that these are the source of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found indoors. These can be a significant source of air pollutants that may have harmful health effects. These could include sensory irritation, respiratory symptoms, and dysfunction of the lungs.
VOCs are hydrocarbon compounds that quickly evaporate and have a high vapor pressure. Some essential components include benzene (carcinogen), toluene (known to cause kidney damage in high concentrations, in low concentrations causes nose and eye irritation), ethylene, and xylene, which have toxic effects. Some air fresheners, including scented candles and plug-ins, contain chemicals such as formaldehyde, naphthalene, and ethanol.
Some potential health risks from the pollutants found in air fresheners include respiratory irritation, asthma, headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritation, dizziness, decreased memory, central nervous effects, nausea, allergies, and potentially chronic effects.
It's easy to replace air fresheners with a few essential oils and a diffuser! There are so many different diffuser options to suit your style and budget!
Don''t have a diffuser? Try this Aromatherapy Air Freshener Recipe
Aromatherapy Air Freshener
1⁄2 cup vodka
1⁄2 cup distilled water or hydrosol
15 - 30 drops of your favorite essential oil blend.
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Label with use, ingredients and date made. Shake before each use.
Essential Oil Blends
Peaceful
7 drops lavender, 6 drops bergamot, 4 drops ho wood
Anxious-Less
7 drops bergamot, 5 drops sweet orange, 3 drops patchouli
Revive
8 drops grapefruit, 5 drops rosemary, 4 drops peppermint
I have complied some of my favorite diffuser and aromatherapy room spray combos inside my ebook Cleaning with Essential Oils.
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In this e-book, you'll learn how to develop your own cleaning recipes that are simple and effective, plus recipes for diffuser blends, aromatherapy room sprays, cleaners and so much more!
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Reference: PMID: 26354370
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