November 4, 2016.
Pine forest, freshness of the ocean, fruit garden, spring meadows … These aromas have no doubt already made you dream. However, aromatic sprays and candles would be harmful to our body and should therefore be avoided.
An opaque composition
Many of us burn aromatic candles or incense to feel transported to a distant environment and imagine idyllic landscapes. But in reality, we had better leave these products on the shelves of supermarkets and pharmacies. The American NGO The Environmental Working Group (EWG) warns that even if these products contain natural essences, their quantities are minimal.
In contrast, the main source of the pleasant smell are synthetic chemicals, some of which are from petroleum. The right granted to brands, in the name of commercial secrecy, not to display the composition of these products, does not allow consumers to differentiate dangerous products from those which are not.
Serious consequences
In order to prove the dangerousness of these products, the NGO commissioned an independent laboratory to analyze the chemical composition of the 38 best-selling aromatic products. Verdict: each product contained an average of 14 components not shown on the label, including dangerous components that can accumulate in the tissues of the human body.
Among them, diethyl phthalate, responsible for spoiling sperm, and musk ketone, which accumulates in fatty tissue and breast milk. Volatile organic compounds in sprays accumulate in the lungs and can cause respiratory disease. They are also the source of chronic fatigue syndrome.
A neutralization of perception
The danger of sprays is also due to the way they work. According to the conclusions of Natural Resources Defense Council, in the United States, their main component is dichlorobenzene, a substance that acts directly on the human nose by blocking odor receptors. Thus, having sprayed the spray, the man smells the “fresh” odor of the product for the first minute, after which his perception of odors fades, hence the illusion that the product has effectively eliminated the odors.
The chemical agent purposely causes a “temporary” deterioration of the mucous membrane. However, it should be remembered that any inspired substance is immediately absorbed into the blood almost as is.
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