UK scientists warn that household aerosols are worse pollutants than vehicles
05/12/2021 / By Ramon Tomey
A new British study has found that household aerosols release more harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than all vehicles in the U.K. VOCs are a large group of chemicals which are released into the atmosphere by cooking, burning fuel and using cleaning and beauty products. Thus, experts have called for a shift away from these aerosols to more environmentally-friendly alternatives.
The April 22 study published in Elementa provided global estimates of VOCs from aerosols based on a wide range of different sources. It also named products that could potentially emit the highest amount of VOCs. The researchers remarked that carpet cleaners, windshield de-icers and oven cleaners were most likely to fall under this category.
Study author and chemistry professor Alistair Lewis of the University of York told the Daily Mail: “In some countries like the U.K., we have reports from manufacturer associations that give sales figures, and then emissions data that go to government and international environmental reporting. We then combine that with laboratory data to turn sales into tons of emissions.”
https://www.climate.news/2021-05-12-uk-scientists-warn-household-aerosols-worse-pollutants.html
