air freshener

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As air freshener (even air fresheners ) are referred to products that are used for scenting rooms where people are present. The fragrances can be distributed in the room air with different systems, which differ in their type of fragrance release, fragrance intensity and duration of action .

history

Toilet stones are mostly based on paradichlorobenzene.

Odor improvement products such as frankincense and myrrh were already known to the ancient Egyptians and Romans . Since the beginning of the 20th century, other chemicals, e.g. B. naphthalene , camphor and later also paradichlorobenzene Use as an air freshener. In addition to masking odors, these substances also have a slight bactericidal and insecticidal effect. Toilet stones made from paradichlorobenzene and perfume oil can still be found today, especially in public toilets. With the increasing development of the fragrance industry, such intensive odor maskers have largely disappeared from private households and are mostly replaced by perfume oil / solvent mixtures. The first modern air fresheners were introduced in the early 1950s and were composed of about 1% active ingredient, 24% solvent and 75% chlorofluorocarbons as propellant . The use of chlorofluorocarbons in air fresheners was banned in 1987 because of their damaging effects on the ozone layer . Other types of air fresheners have taken their place today, such as scented candles, scented sprays based on alternative propellants and scented plugs.

Differentiation from air purifiers and odor neutralizers

air cleaner

While air fresheners are primarily used as a fragrance dispenser, which cover up existing smells with stronger smells that are perceived as pleasant, air purifiers aim to free the room air from air pollutants. Such devices are sold commercially, for example as NTP air purification devices or air ionizers . High-energy particles, reactive oxygen species (ROS), should react with air pollutants such as compounds that are present in cigarette smoke to form products that are harmless to health.

Criticism of air purifiers

With air ionizers, the process-related formation of ozone cannot be avoided. This means that there is a risk of harmful by-products being produced. It is not advisable to use such products to "clean up" smoky rooms, as they can create even more harmful compounds than are already present in cigarette smoke .

Odor neutralizer

Odor neutralizers or odor absorbers whose formulations are based on cyclodextrins must also be distinguished from the air fresheners described here . Due to their cavity structure, these can form inclusion compounds with odor molecules and are intended to capture unpleasant odors from the air.

ingredients

There is a wide range of types of air fresheners that are composed in different ways. The fragrance effect is achieved by adding essential oils or synthetically produced fragrances, so-called fragrances . Examples are hydroxycitronellal and lyral .

Propellant gases are used in sprays, which are volatile organic compounds , e.g. B. propane and butane . Mineral oil , glycol ethers and phthalates , for example , serve as solvents . Liquid air fresheners often consist largely of an aqueous chlorophyll solution . It also contains anionic and nonionic surfactants , as well as disinfectants with calcium phosphate , talc and stearin .

Below are some examples of essential oils contained in air fresheners with their INCI names and fragrances contained.

Essential oils

Surname Designation according to INCI Included fragrances
Lemon and orange oil Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil Limonene , Pinene , Terpinene
Eucalyptus oil Eucalyptus Globulus Oil 1,8-cineole
Lavender oil Lavendula Angustifolia Oil Linalool , ocimene , terpinen-4-ol
Clove oil Eugenia Caryphyllus Leaf Oil Eugenol
peppermint oil Menta Piperita Oil menthol
Tea tree oil Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil Terpinen, terpene - alcohols , pinene, myrcene , phellandrene , cymene , limonene, 1,8-cineole
Cinnamon oil Cinnamomum Cassia Oil Cinnamal

Application systems

Air fresheners can be divided into three groups depending on their use: products with immediate effects, energy-assisted products and products with permanent effects. Different systems are used within these groups, but they are based on the same operating principle.

Products with immediate effect

Air freshener in a spray can

With these products, a perfume-containing formulation is atomized into very small particles by propellant gas or a mechanical process. The substances with a high fragrance intensity are released with immediate effect. The duration of action is usually limited to about 30 minutes.

Typical designs of these products are:

Energy-assisted products

Energy-assisted air freshening products are linked to an internal or external energy source . This enables z. B. a higher fragrance intensity, a controlled perfume release and a continuous effect of the products.

Typical embodiments are:

Products with lasting effects

In the case of air fresheners with a permanent effect, a perfume or a perfumed mixture is absorbed by an active carrier material so that the perfume continuously evaporates to a certain extent. The intensity of the scent can be classified as low to medium and is perceived as a permanent scent background. The duration of action is generally one to three months. Factors such as room temperature , humidity and air exchange have an influence on the effectiveness of these products.

Possible carrier materials are:

Another possibility is the sealing of perfume oil in a polymer film through which the fragrances diffuse in a controlled manner . In addition, perfume can be incorporated into a gel based on water or solvents, with water and perfume evaporating in a controlled manner and consumption being indicated by the shrinkage of the gel mass.

toxicology

Some of the essential oils used are allergic and have a toxic effect in high doses, which is particularly true for eucalyptus and peppermint oils. In addition, the ingredients in air fresheners can react with the ozone in the air to form secondary pollutants such as formaldehyde , benzene and ultra-fine dust . For example, the reaction of d-limonene and ozone can lead to the formation of formaldehyde. Ultra-fine dust can affect the respiratory , central nervous and immune systems. The reactions that take place can only be predicted to a limited extent, as they depend on the air fresheners used and the individual interior conditions. A significant correlation was also found between the regular use of air fresheners and the associated exposure to volatile organic compounds with physical and psychological problems in children and their mothers.

Criticism of air fresheners

In regular examinations of numerous samples of different air fresheners, missing information on the ingredients, especially those of sensitizing fragrances, was criticized. The lack of hazard warnings / symbols were also criticized. Due to the possible health risk resulting from the above-mentioned toxicological aspects, the use of air fresheners, especially those that contain volatile organic compounds, is often not advised.

See also

literature

  • Hermann G. Hauthal, Günter Wagner: Cleaning and care products in the household: chemistry, application, ecology and consumer safety . Verlag for the chemical industry, Augsburg 2007, ISBN 978-3-87846-265-1

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Entry on air fresheners. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on November 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ a b c d e Hermann G. Hauthal, Günter Wagner: Cleaning and care products in the household: chemistry, application, ecology and consumer safety . Verlag für chemical industry, Augsburg 2007, ISBN 978-3-87846-265-1 , p. 238-239 .
  3. ↑ Hermann G. Hauthal, Günter Wagner: Cleaning and care products in the household: chemistry, application, ecology and consumer safety . Verlag für chemical industry, Augsburg 2007, ISBN 978-3-87846-265-1 , p. 44-45 .
  4. ↑ Charles J. Weschler: Changes in indoor pollutants since the 1950s . In: Atmospheric Environment . tape 43 , no. 1 , January 2009, ISSN  1352-2310 , p. 153–169 , doi : 10.1016 / j.atmosenv.2008.09.044 ( elsevier.com ).
  5. ↑ a b c d Sanghwa Kim, Seong-Ho Hong, Choon-Keun Bong, Myung-Haing Cho: Characterization of air freshener emission: the potential health effects . In: The Journal of Toxicological Sciences . tape 40 , no. 5 , 2015, ISSN  0388-1350 , p. 535-550 , doi : 10.2131 / jts.40.535 ( jst.go.jp ).
  6. ↑ H. Heberer, E. Nies, M. Dietschi, A. Möller, W. Pflaumenbaum, M. Steinhausen: Considerations on the effect and toxicological relevance of NTP air purification devices . In: Hazardous substances - clean content. Air . No. 65 , 2005, pp. 419-424 ( dguv.de [PDF]).
  7. ↑ Warning of air purifiers with ozone or ozone generators to remove odors: www.lungenaerzte-im-netz.de. Retrieved November 28, 2018 .
  8. ↑ Mohamad Sleiman, Hugo Destaillats, Jared D. Smith, Chen-Lin Liu, Musahid Ahmed: Secondary organic aerosol formation from ozone-initiated reactions with nicotine and secondhand tobacco smoke . In: Atmospheric Environment . tape 44 , no. 34 , November 2010, ISSN  1352-2310 , p. 4191-4198 , doi : 10.1016 / j.atmosenv.2010.07.023 ( elsevier.com ).
  9. ↑ Hermann G. Hauthal: Cleaning and care products in the household: chemistry, application, ecology and consumer safety . Verlag für chemical industry, Augsburg 2007, ISBN 978-3-87846-265-1 , p. 236-237 .
  10. ↑ Jack Millner: Does Febreze really banish bad odours? Air freshening molecules form a cage to trap smelly compounds, making them 'invisible' to your nose. In: Mail Online. August 18, 2015, accessed November 29, 2018 .
  11. ↑ Information on air fresheners . hepa air purifier. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  12. ↑ JD Johansen, PJ Frosch, C. Svedman, KE Andersen, M. Bruze, C. Pirker, T. Menné: Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde-known as Lyral®: quantitative aspects and risk assessment of an important fragrance allergen . In: Contact Dermatitis . tape 48 , no. 6 , June 2003, p. 310-316 , doi : 10.1034 / j.1600-0536.2003.00126.x .
  13. ↑ Hans Peter Latscha, Uli Kazmaier, Helmut Alfons Klein: Chemistry in everyday life . In: Organic Chemistry . Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-642-36592-8 , pp. 542-543 , doi : 10.1007 / 978-3-540-77107-4_39 ( springer.com ).
  14. ↑ The dose makes the poison - even herbal fragrances are not always harmless - BfR. Retrieved November 29, 2018 .
  15. ↑ Alexandra Farrow, Hazel Taylor, Kate Northstone, Jean Golding: Symptoms of Mothers and Infants Related to Total Volatile Organic Compounds in Household Products . In: Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal . tape 58 , no. October 10 , 2003, ISSN  0003-9896 , p. 633-641 , doi : 10.3200 / aeoh.58.10.633-641 ( tandfonline.com ).
  16. ↑ Thomas Siegl: Raumluftveresserer - investigation results 2007. In: Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. May 8, 2008, accessed November 30, 2018 .
  17. ↑ Room fragrances - test results 2009. In: Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. February 15, 2010, accessed November 30, 2018 .
  18. ↑ Mareike Lechner: Raumluftveresserer - research results 2012. In: Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. September 19, 2013, accessed November 30, 2018 .