"Researchers attribute up to 900,000 premature deaths every year to a dangerous component of air particle pollution found in paints, pesticides, and cleaning supplies."
"A specific component of air particle pollution found in some common household products could be responsible for up to 900,000 premature deaths every year—10 times greater than previous estimates, according to new research published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.
While the majority of these components, referred to as anthropogenic secondary organic aerosols (ASOAs), are produced during the combustion of fossil fuels, some come from everyday use products, such as cleaning supplies, pesticides, or household paint.
"All those different smells you're getting from paint are different [volatile organic compounds] that are being emitted" into the air, Benjamin Nault, a research scientist at Aerodyne Research, Inc. and lead author of the study, told EHN. Once released, these gases, also known as VOCs, can transform into a new subset of stickier chemicals which clump together to form ASOAs.
Even though the majority of these compounds are produced indoors—and can play a role in creating poor indoor air quality—they will eventually escape outside through open windows or miniscule cracks in the foundation. In urban areas, ASOAs can make up a significant portion of the more commonly known pollutant, fine particulate matter (PM2.5)."
Krystal Vasquez reports for Environmental Health News August 16, 2021.
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