Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Air Fresheners

Plug-Ins at Home and Little Trees in Cars

Authors

  • Adriana Pino-Delgado
  • Danielle Vado
  • Dajon McLeese
  • Shizuka Hsieh Trinity Washington University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsr.v10i2.1236

Keywords:

volatile organic compounds, air quality, air fresheners

Abstract

Air fresheners contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which are possible hazardous air pollutants, carcinogens, or chemicals associated with adverse health effects such as asthma. This screening study identifies VOCs emitted from two types of air fresheners. Plug-in air fresheners are household products that release scents from a heated liquid. Little Tree air fresheners are commonly-used solid devices designed to hang in from the rear view mirror in cars. VOCs that were released from heated samples of air fresheners were identified by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GCMS). In a pilot study to characterize how air fresheners affect air quality in real settings, air samples were collected on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) field samplers in a home setting and inside a vehicle, before and during air-freshener use. This pilot demonstrated the potential for SPME field samplers to track changes in VOC levels in real-life settings.

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Published

07-03-2021

How to Cite

Pino-Delgado, A., Vado, D., McLeese, D., & Hsieh, S. (2021). Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted from Air Fresheners: Plug-Ins at Home and Little Trees in Cars. Journal of Student Research, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsr.v10i2.1236

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Section

Research Articles