"If You Have This at Home, Remove It Immediately"... 'This Item' Is as Harmful as Smoking

Concerns Over Respiratory and Immune System Effects from Prolonged Exposure to Scented Candles and Diffusers

Image to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay

Experts have issued a warning that commonly used scented candles, air fresheners, and diffusers, which are often used in daily life for their fragrance, can actually irritate the nose and bronchial tubes, potentially causing inflammatory reactions. In particular, they point out that prolonged use indoors can lead to the accumulation of harmful substances, increasing fine dust concentrations to levels that pose a health burden similar to smoking.

Kwon Hyuksoo, Professor of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, recently appeared on the YouTube channel "Jisik Hansang," where he cited "fragrant items" as objects he would never keep at home. He explained, "Products like air fresheners, scented candles, and incense that produce smoke by burning are toxic to our bodies," adding, "The process of burning organic materials, much like cigarettes, produces various harmful chemicals." He further elaborated, "Keeping these items indoors can result in much higher levels of fine dust than outdoor air pollution."

The True Nature of Fragrances: Chemicals That Can Cause Inflammation

The scents from diffusers and air fresheners mainly originate from volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These substances easily disperse into the air and can irritate the nose and bronchial passages, potentially triggering inflammatory reactions.

Phthalates, found in some products, are classified as environmental hormones, and research has raised concerns about their association with respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis. Prolonged exposure may also lead to immune system disruption or hormonal imbalance.

Image to aid understanding of the article. Getty Images

Additionally, limonene, commonly used in lemon or orange-scented products, is generally considered a relatively safe substance on its own. However, concerns have been raised that it can generate harmful substances such as formaldehyde when it reacts with other chemicals or ozone in the air.

Indoor Air May Be More Hazardous Than Outdoors

The issue is that these substances tend to accumulate indoors. While short-term exposure may not cause noticeable issues, long-term exposure can impact not only the respiratory system but also overall health.

In fact, numerous studies have shown that a combination of various factors—such as furniture finishes, paints, cleaning agents, and mold—can cause indoor air pollution levels to exceed those found outdoors. During this process, harmful substances like toluene, phenol, and formaldehyde can accumulate, leading to inflammation and immune system abnormalities.

Experts emphasize that it is more important to reduce the use of fragrance products and instead prioritize ventilation and cleanliness. Professor Kwon advised, "It is also advisable to minimize the use of air fresheners inside vehicles," and added, "The most effective method is to ventilate several times a day, even briefly, to circulate the air."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.