Indoor use of essential oil-based cleaning products: Emission rate and indoor air quality impact assessment based on a realistic application methodology

Cleaning is performed to increase hygiene, esthetics and material preservation. Despite its benefits, cleaning also poses risks, potentially contributing nearly 20% of indoor pollution. As air quality has become a major human health concern, “natural-scented” products, formulated with essential oils, have market leaders among household products. However, these consumer products benefitted from skillful marketing strategies based on the ambiguity words “green” “natural”. The characterization emission processes studied through 1-m3 chamber experiments under realistic scenario suggests variable maximum total terpene concentrations 150 300 ppb. estimated rate profiles confirm that liquid-to-gas transfer terpenes driven by (i) formulation product matrix inducing specific chemical affinities, (ii) liquid content individual terpenes, (iii) intrinsic volatility terpenes. A unique formaldehyde kinetics profile was observed, suggesting presence source: formaldehyde-releasers. Consequently, use essential-oil-based might generate long-term in concentration, levels be sustained for several hours after cleaning. Thus, cleaners should seriously considered as versatile significant sources fragrance molecules formaldehyde.