This stinks! Evaporated particles from smelly deodorants, sun block and bug spray are responsible for HALF of smog in New York City and other major US urban areas
- Fragrant personal care items contain evaporative ingredients from fossil fuels
- A study finds these products are contributing to smog in major US cities
- These products generated nearly half of the 78% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from people found in New York City during 2018
- The team did the same measurements in a less denser city - Boulder, Colorado
- Here VOCs from humans were 42%, while 58% came from traffic
Summer has taken hold of the US, bringing hot temperatures that force people to lather up on deodorant, sun block and bug spray, but a new study finds these fragrant products are responsible for a large amount of smog hanging over cities.
New research, conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), found evaporative ingredients used in such fragrant goods are typically sourced from fossil fuels. With millions of people applying these products in close proximity, the particles greatly add to ozone pollution – even more than traffic.
The team collected air samples in New York City during 2018, which showed fragrant personal care products generated nearly half of the 78 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that came from people.
CIRES scientist and study co-author Georgios Gkatzelis said he was initially skeptical that consumer products could play such a big role in ozone pollution.
'Seeing all those cars when biking to work in Boulder, Colorado convinced me they had to be the dominant VOC source,' Gkatzelis said in a statement.
'But after driving our NOAA van though New York City and watching our instrument displays, Matt [Coggon, the study's lead author] and I were often shouting at each other in amazement at what we were seeing.'
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The team collected air samples in New York City during 2018, which showed fragrant personal care products generated nearly half of the 78 percent of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that came from people
The researcher's new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, uses the New York City case to look at other urban areas, such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Utilizing what they learned previously, as published earlier this year in Environmental Science & Technology, the team has been driving around cities in the US Southwest, conducting mobile laboratory and ground-site measurements to how much personal care products account for VOCs.
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VOCs are a primary ingredient in the formation of ground-level ozone and are mostly found in human-made chemicals used in paints, pharmaceuticals and personal products.
They are emitted as gases, which can trigger health issues in people of all ages who suffer from lung diseases, such as asthma.
Coggon, a CIRES scientist working at NOAA, said in the statement: 'The big takeaway is how much VOC emissions from consumer products increase as urban population density increases, and how much these chemicals actually matter for producing ozone.'
He and his team previously found products with volatile chemicals - paints, cleaners and personal care products – were responsible for 78 percent of the Manhattan VOC budget, versus just 22 percent for transportation.
Similar measurements were also taken in Boulder, Colorado to see if a less dense city would have the same results. The team found that volatile consumer products were still responsible for 42 percent of human-caused VOCs, but traffic contributed the most with 58 percent
Similar measurements were also taken in Boulder, Colorado to see if a less dense city would have the same results – Boulder has a population of 329,316 and Manhattan's is 1.63 million.
The researchers found that volatile consumer products were still responsible for 42 percent of human-caused VOCs, but traffic contributed the most with 58 percent.
Coggon said the current generation of air quality models do not accurately simulate both the emissions and atmospheric chemistry of these consumer products and must be updated in order to capture their full impact on urban air quality.
In areas where ozone pollution is a problem, new strategies to control VOC sources may need to be devised, he said.
'We know now that these products are making ozone pollution worse,' Coggon explained. 'We can't control what the trees are emitting, but what we can do is look for ways to make these common everyday products less polluting.'
VOCs arise from both natural (biogenic) and man-made sources, whereas NOx is emitted by human activities
Another group of researchers published a study in February 2021 that detailed even more about the effects of air pollution, finding it can increase the risk of heart and lung disease.
A team of Harvard University researchers used the addresses of 63 million US adults aged 65 and older to assess their exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3).
'Long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of hospital admissions with cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes on an additive scale among the elderly population of the United States,' said the researchers, who are from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
'Each unit increase in levels of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone were associated with thousands of additional admissions each year.
'Air pollution should be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
'The risk persists even at levels below current national and international guidelines.'
Pollution exposure was then compared to whether they went on to experience a heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation and pneumonia.
Revealed: MailOnline dissects the impact greenhouse gases have on the planet - and what is being done to stop air pollution
Emissions
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the biggest contributors to global warming. After the gas is released into the atmosphere it stays there, making it difficult for heat to escape - and warming up the planet in the process.
It is primarily released from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, as well as cement production.
The average monthly concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere, as of April 2019, is 413 parts per million (ppm). Before the Industrial Revolution, the concentration was just 280 ppm.
CO2 concentration has fluctuated over the last 800,000 years between 180 to 280ppm, but has been vastly accelerated by pollution caused by humans.
Nitrogen dioxide
The gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) comes from burning fossil fuels, car exhaust emissions and the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers used in agriculture.
Although there is far less NO2 in the atmosphere than CO2, it is between 200 and 300 times more effective at trapping heat.
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) also primarily comes from fossil fuel burning, but can also be released from car exhausts.
SO2 can react with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the atmosphere to cause acid rain.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an indirect greenhouse gas as it reacts with hydroxyl radicals, removing them. Hydroxyl radicals reduce the lifetime of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Particulates
What is particulate matter?
Particulate matter refers to tiny parts of solids or liquid materials in the air.
Some are visible, such as dust, whereas others cannot be seen by the naked eye.
Materials such as metals, microplastics, soil and chemicals can be in particulate matter.
Particulate matter (or PM) is described in micrometres. The two main ones mentioned in reports and studies are PM10 (less than 10 micrometres) and PM2.5 (less than 2.5 micrometres).
Air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels, cars, cement making and agriculture
Scientists measure the rate of particulates in the air by cubic metre.
Particulate matter is sent into the air by a number of processes including burning fossil fuels, driving cars and steel making.
Why are particulates dangerous?
Particulates are dangerous because those less than 10 micrometres in diameter can get deep into your lungs, or even pass into your bloodstream. Particulates are found in higher concentrations in urban areas, particularly along main roads.
Health impact
What sort of health problems can pollution cause?
According to the World Health Organization, a third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease can be linked to air pollution.
Some of the effects of air pollution on the body are not understood, but pollution may increase inflammation which narrows the arteries leading to heart attacks or strokes.
As well as this, almost one in 10 lung cancer cases in the UK are caused by air pollution.
Particulates find their way into the lungs and get lodged there, causing inflammation and damage. As well as this, some chemicals in particulates that make their way into the body can cause cancer.
Deaths from pollution
Around seven million people die prematurely because of air pollution every year. Pollution can cause a number of issues including asthma attacks, strokes, various cancers and cardiovascular problems.
Asthma triggers
Air pollution can cause problems for asthma sufferers for a number of reasons. Pollutants in traffic fumes can irritate the airways, and particulates can get into your lungs and throat and make these areas inflamed.
Problems in pregnancy
Women exposed to air pollution before getting pregnant are nearly 20 per cent more likely to have babies with birth defects, research suggested in January 2018.
Living within 3.1 miles (5km) of a highly-polluted area one month before conceiving makes women more likely to give birth to babies with defects such as cleft palates or lips, a study by University of Cincinnati found.
For every 0.01mg/m3 increase in fine air particles, birth defects rise by 19 per cent, the research adds.
Previous research suggests this causes birth defects as a result of women suffering inflammation and 'internal stress'.
What is being done to tackle air pollution?
Paris agreement on climate change
The Paris Agreement, which was first signed in 2015, is an international agreement to control and limit climate change.
It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2°C (3.6ºF) 'and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F)'.
Carbon neutral by 2050
The UK government has announced plans to make the country carbon neutral by 2050.
They plan to do this by planting more trees and by installing 'carbon capture' technology at the source of the pollution.
Some critics are worried that this first option will be used by the government to export its carbon offsetting to other countries.
International carbon credits let nations continue emitting carbon while paying for trees to be planted elsewhere, balancing out their emissions.
No new petrol or diesel vehicles by 2040
In 2017, the UK government announced the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would be banned by 2040.
However, MPs on the climate change committee have urged the government to bring the ban forward to 2030, as by then they will have an equivalent range and price.
The Paris Agreement, which was first signed in 2015, is an international agreement to control and limit climate change. Pictured: air pollution over Paris in 2019.
Norway's electric car subsidies
The speedy electrification of Norway's automotive fleet is attributed mainly to generous state subsidies. Electric cars are almost entirely exempt from the heavy taxes imposed on petrol and diesel cars, which makes them competitively priced.
A VW Golf with a standard combustion engine costs nearly 334,000 kroner (34,500 euros, $38,600), while its electric cousin the e-Golf costs 326,000 kroner thanks to a lower tax quotient.
Criticisms of inaction on climate change
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has said there is a 'shocking' lack of Government preparation for the risks to the country from climate change.
The committee assessed 33 areas where the risks of climate change had to be addressed – from flood resilience of properties to impacts on farmland and supply chains – and found no real progress in any of them.
The UK is not prepared for 2°C of warming, the level at which countries have pledged to curb temperature rises, let alone a 4°C rise, which is possible if greenhouse gases are not cut globally, the committee said.
It added that cities need more green spaces to stop the urban 'heat island' effect, and to prevent floods by soaking up heavy rainfall.
- Fragrant consumer products a key source of ozone-forming pollution in New York City - Welcome to NOAA Research
- pubs.acs.org/doi...
- Long-term exposure to low levels of air pollution increases risk of heart and lung disease | American Heart Association
- pubs.acs.org/doi...
- Volatile chemical product emissions enhance ozone and modulate urban chemistry | PNAS
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