Household products now a major source of urban air pollution

Colorado, February 16: We always blame emissions from vehicles as a major source of air pollution but a new study reveals that chemicals from everyday household products now contribute to air pollution in cities on the same level. A study from the University of Colorado has found this alarming fact.

People use a lot more fuel than they do petroleum-based compounds in chemical products—about 15 times more by weight, according to the new assessment. Even so, lotions, paints and other products contribute about as much to air pollution as does the transportation sector. In the case of PM2.5, particle-forming emissions from chemical products are about twice as high as those from the transportation sector, the team found.

Over a period of six weeks, the researchers collected air samples in Pasadena, located in the notoriously smoggy Los Angeles valley. They also evaluated indoor air quality measurements made by other scientists. The team traced the molecules found in these air samples to their original sources using databases that show the specific volatile organic compounds released by specific products.

The more air pollution is tormenting us the reasons are becoming more visible every day. Various initiatives are being taken by authorities, governments, automobile industrialists to curb pollution.” As transportation gets cleaner, those other sources become more and more important,” Brian McDonald, corresponding author of the study said.