Vapors from cleaning products settle in the lungs at the same rate as exhaust gases, researchers from the University of California at Davis found. They talked about this in an article in the journal Science Advances.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to use cleaners and disinfectants more frequently, both at home and at work. But their active use also increases the concentration of volatile compounds that are formed during the evaporation of agents, including secondary organic aerosols. BOAs are formed as a result of the oxidation of certain molecules, and they account for the bulk of the aerosols that harm the atmosphere.

“Understanding the mechanism of formation and properties of VOA is important for assessing their impact on climate, air quality and human health,” the scientists explain.

The researchers focused on volatile monoterpenes, which are also formed when using cleaning products. For 12-14 minutes, they washed surfaces in a closed room with ventilation and in the process measured the release of aerosols, oxidants, radicals, secondary oxidation products.

A person using a cleaning product containing monoterpenes first inhales 30-40 micrograms of primary volatile organic compounds per minute, the scientists calculated. When the molecules react with air and oxidize, a person inhales 0.1 to 0.7 micrograms of particles of secondary compounds per minute. Thus, aerosols enter the respiratory tract at the same or higher speeds as car exhaust - and are likely to cause no less harm.

Despite the importance of disinfecting surfaces, excessive use of it can be dangerous for the body. To minimize the accumulation of polluting particles, according to the researchers, can maintain indoor ozone concentrations below one part in a billion.

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