How households contribute to air polution

Research in the US has found that chemicals in everyday household products are now a major contributor to city air pollution

Most householders would probably not even know that volatile organic compounds (VOC) are contained in petroleum-based products such as cleaning fluids and paints, and that when these get into the air can form particles that affect health.

Scientists in the US now say the sources of non-vehicle VOCs have been underestimated.

Dr Jessica Gilman, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist, said it should not be seen as that remarkable because vehicle fuels are burned (to yield mostly carbon dioxide and water), whereas many of the household products are simply wafted into the air by design.

Hear Dr Gilman:
"Most commonly, they're used as solvents - things like nail polish remover, the hairspray I used this morning; they are used in many cases as cleaning agents like carpet cleaners."

"It would be difficult to remove them because the alternative is to use straight water, which as you know doesn't work for all stains."