How Your Perfume Might Be Disrupting Your Body’s Natural Chemical Defense

A recent study has revealed that the use of perfumes or lotions may change the air chemistry around us, potentially leading to unknown health effects. Researchers introduced a concept called the "human oxidation field," a chemical reaction happening right next to our skin. This field reacts with surrounding molecules and can neutralize harmful compounds.

However, new findings suggest that applying personal care products can alter this chemistry. When lotions or perfumes are used, they can release vapors that mix with the air, leading to the creation of toxic byproducts that might be inhaled or absorbed by the skin.

Nora Zannoni, an atmospheric scientist from the Max Planck Institute, explained, “The human oxidation field impacts what chemicals we breathe in, which in turn influences our health.” This ties back to a groundbreaking discovery made in 2022, where scientists found that natural oils from our skin interacted with ozone in the air, forming hydroxyl radicals, often referred to as a natural "detergent" for pollutants.

While hydroxyl radicals can help clean the air, they can also generate dangerous byproducts. Understanding how this field interacts with chemicals indoors and outdoors is just beginning. In a recent experiment, four young adults were placed in a controlled indoor setting. When they applied lotion, the levels of certain chemicals in the air around them rose significantly—up to 2.8 times higher than the surrounding air.

Researchers also tested the effects of ozone, a chemical generated when sunlight reacts with certain pollutants. They discovered that when body lotion was applied, the generation of a key precursor for hydroxyl radicals was reduced by 34%. This means the protective effects of these radicals were disrupted, raising concerns about indoor air quality.

Similar results were seen when participants used perfume, where the concentration of certain chemical compounds increased significantly. This research illustrates that personal care products can significantly disrupt the natural chemical balance around us.

Jonathon Williams, an atmospheric chemist, stresses the need to rethink our understanding of indoor chemistry since what we apply to our skin can reshape the air we breathe.

These findings raise important questions about how everyday products might affect our health. As we continue to rely on these personal care items, the implications for our indoor environments merit closer examination.

For more in-depth insights on this topic, you can explore studies published in Science Advances.

Source link

MSFT Content