Household chemicals play key role in air pollution

In a surprising study, scientists say everyday chemicals now rival cars as a source of air pollution. Chris Mooney at The Washington Post reports that "the nature of air pollution is changing dramatically as cars become cleaner — leaving personal-care products, paints, indoor cleaners and other chemical-containing agents as an increasingly dominant source of key emissions." As emissions from the transportation sector decrease, the gases emitted by household products and activities have become more significant.

The published paper "Volatile chemical products emerging as largest petrochemical source of urban organic emissions" includes contributions by ACOM and CIRES scientist Julia Lee-Taylor.

Citation: Science 16 Feb 2018: Vol. 359, Issue 6377, pp. 760-764. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaq052

February 15, 2018