Impact of simultaneous use of consumer spray products on airborne substances

Abstract

Although chemicals have become essential to modern life, human exposure to hazardous substances has increased through multiple pathways—particularly when products are applied directly to the body. While many studies have focused on identifying harmful ingredients in individual products, there remains a lack of research on exposure levels resulting from the simultaneous use of multiple products. This study aimed to measure changes in airborne concentrations of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and aldehydes when consumer spray products are used individually and in combination. 15 products from three categories—fragrance, disinfectant, and hairspray—were selected for ingredient analysis. Subsequently, three products were chosen for inhalation experiments in a controlled chamber. The total VOC (TVOC) concentration showed 273.1 ± 87.8 µg/m³ for a single product application but increased to 414.6 ± 194.2 µg/m³ when two products were sprayed simultaneously and reached 1162.4 ± 48.9 µg/m³ when all three were used together. Ethanol and α-pinene concentrations increased with simultaneous use, whereas linalool and acetone levels decreased, exhibiting contrasting trends. Notably, when a product containing linalool was used, the proportion of nanoparticles increased by 12.2 ± 7.9 %. This finding suggests that concurrent use of multiple products may elevate particle exposure risks, warranting caution.