DAY 1 Session 3: Fragranced consumer products and effects on asthmatics
Speaker: Dr Nigel Goodman is a Research Fellow in Air Quality and Health based in the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University (ANU).
Abstract
Fragrance is used in consumer products around the world. However, it has been associated with adverse effects on indoor and outdoor air quality and human health. Also fragranced consumer products can emit and generate potentially hazardous compounds including formaldehyde and fine particulate matter. This talk will present findings from recent studies on the volatile emissions from fragranced consumer products and implications for asthma. It will also discuss strategies that can help improve air quality, and reduce exposures to emissions from fragranced consumer products and the adverse effects on asthmatics.
Key Takeaways
Provided evidence that exposure to fragranced consumer products is associated with adverse health and societal effects, especially in vulnerable populations such as asthmatics.
Demonstrated that fragrance-free policies and fragrance-free environments are preferred by a majority of the population, both asthmatics and non-asthmatics.
Evaluated and demonstrated effective strategies to reduce exposures from fragranced consumer products in homes (i.e., from clothes dryers) and in workplaces (i.e., from air fresheners).
For instance, switching from fragranced to fragrance-free laundry products can reduce concentrations of d-limonene by up to 99% from the dryer vent emissions. (Average reduction of 79.1%)
Findings highlight the vulnerability of asthmatics to VOCs from fragranced consumer products, and demonstrate relatively straightforward ways to help improve (and create) healthier indoor environments.
Bio:
Dr Nigel Goodman is a Research Fellow in Air Quality and Health based in the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University (ANU). He is also a Vice-Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow at RMIT University. Nigel is an air quality scientist with expertise in reducing human exposure to the sources of indoor and outdoor air pollution. Nigel completed his PhD in Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne in 2019. His research identified primary indoor air pollutants and understudied locations, such as educational environments. Prior to his PhD studies, Nigel was employed as a scientist at the Commonwealth Industrial and Scientific Research Organisation (CSIRO). He contributed to experimental programs in electrochemistry and corrosion and led projects on water recycling and water purification. Nigel has published journal articles on topics that include indoor air quality, volatile organic compounds emissions, electrochemistry, desalination, water recycling, and pollutant exposures and effects.