The Nuance
Fragranced Products Could Hurt Your Health
Americans are cleaning more than ever — and all those scented products are worrying consumer-health researchers
Even before the pandemic, Americans were among the world’s most enthusiastic users of scented home-cleaning products. Market research from the industry-tracking firm Statista shows that the United States ranks first in the world in spending on household cleaners; the U.S. spends more on these products than the next three countries on the list, combined.
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has only intensified the country’s zeal for scented wipes, sprays, detergents, soaps, and sanitizers. According to a recent study in Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, the pandemic has initiated a “sweeping and surging use” of such products both in the U.S. and abroad.
While there’s certainly a heightened need for regular and thorough hand-washing, and probably also for frequent disinfection of door handles and other oft-touched surfaces, it’s not at all clear that Americans can scrub and spray the novel coronavirus into lavender-scented submission — especially if they’re doing so at home.
In August, an expert comment appearing in The Lancet reviewed some of the best research to date on…
