Fragrance Emissions into the Air and Their Impact on Air Quality and Human Health

Abstract

Fragrances have been widely used in consumer products around the world, leading to their release into environmental compartments. Due to their volatility, fractions of fragrances in the air are subjected to volatilization, photolysis, and reaction with oxidation agents (O3, OH, Cl, and NO3 radicals), and can also be removed from the atmosphere via dry and wet deposition. Their vast distribution and presence in the air cause adverse effects on air quality, a crucial parameter that affects people and environmental health worldwide. Fragrances and their reaction products can enter the human body through inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion and may pose a health threat. Recently, there has been rising concern over these chemicals’ negative effects. To address the questions about fragrances, this chapter provides systematic information on the occurrence and potential sources of fragrances, their fate in the air, and their effects on health, focusing on air chemistry. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.