Sprays and diffusers with essential oils are multiplying in supermarkets and specialized stores: put forward for their “sanitizing”, “purifying” or even “purifying” properties, these products play on the “natural” argument to reassure consumers. .
According to a recent publication by ANSES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety), sprays and diffusers with essential oils could however prove to be dangerous for health.
Experts analyzed 4,114 incidents linked to these products that occurred in France and recorded by poison control centers between January 2011 and March 2019. First information: sprays and diffusers with essential oils mainly represent a danger for children around from the age of 5 years (48.5% of cases identified).
Of the 4114 incidents recorded, 1387 poisonings were of low severity, 37 of medium severity and 8 of high severity. These were mainly exposures to essential oils by the oral or buccal route (48.2% of cases), by the ocular route (34.5%), by the dermal route (17.3%) and by the respiratory route (11 .5%).
Essential oils should not be used lightly!
The main symptoms of these poisonings with essential oils were digestive damage (nausea, vomiting…), eye damage (eye irritation…) and/or skin damage (redness, rashes on the skin…) . Experts note that, of the 8 most serious cases, 3 had occurred “under normal conditions of use, i.e. as recommended by the manufacturer“…
What are the recommendations of the specialists? First, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) explains that “products rich in phenols or ketones, substances that irritate the respiratory tract, are unsuitable for diffusion or inhalation” – this concerns in particular the essential oils of Ceylon cinnamon, tarragon, clove, thymol thyme, eucalyptus mint, sage officinalis, cedar, mugwort and peppermint.
Second, ANSES emphasizes that “in the same way as detergent products or medicines, sprays or diffusers as well as bottles containing essential oils must remain out of reach of young children“. In addition, in the event of a respiratory or chronic pathology (epilepsy, COPD, asthma, respiratory allergy, etc.), medical advice is necessary before using a spray or an essential oil diffuser. Finally, the health authorities point out that it is necessary to ventilate your home regularly – even in the middle of winter…
Source : handles
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