Just as outdoor air pollution can be harmful, indoor air can also contain harmful pollutants. A major source of indoor air pollutants is fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and laundry products.
Some chemicals used in these products can pose health risks, even in very small amounts. In fact, one third of Australians are sensitive to these scented products, experiencing health problems such as asthma attacks and migraine headaches.
So, what steps can you take to improve air quality at home? CAUL Hub research found that switching off air fresheners can reduce concentrations of fragrance chemicals by up to 96 per cent within two weeks. Using fragrance-free rather than fragranced laundry detergent can also reduce emissions of potentially hazardous pollutants from dryer vents by up to 99 per cent.
Read more about the hidden hazards in air fresheners and laundry products and how you can reduce your exposure in the Hub’s new air quality factsheets.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash