Why use it when there are so many alternatives?
University
of York
A new study by the University of York and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science reveals
that the picture is damaging globally with the world’s population now using
huge numbers of disposable aerosols – more than 25 billion cans per year.
This is estimated to lead to the release of more than 1.3 million
tonnes of VOC air pollution each year, and could rise to 2.2 million tonnes by
2050.
The chemicals now used in compressed aerosols are predominantly
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals which are also released from cars
and fuels. The report says the VOCs currently being used in aerosols are less
damaging than the ozone-depleting CFCs they replaced in the 1980’s. However, in
the 80’s when key international policy decisions were made, no-one foresaw
such a large rise in global consumption.
Smog
In the presence of sunlight, VOCs combine with a second pollutant,
nitrogen oxides, to cause photochemical smog which is harmful to human health
and damages crops and plants.
In the 1990s and 2000s by far the largest source of VOC pollution
in the UK was gasoline cars and fuel, but these emissions have reduced
dramatically in recent years through controls such as catalytic converters on
vehicles and fuel vapour recovery at filling stations.
Researchers found that on average in high-income countries 10 cans
of aerosol are used per person per year with the largest contributor being
personal care products. The global amount emitted from aerosols every year is
surging as lower and middle-income economies grow and people in these countries
buy more.
The report authors are calling on international policymakers to
reduce the use of VOCs in compressed aerosols, either by encouraging less
damaging propellants like nitrogen, or advocating the use of non-aerosol
versions of products. At present VOCs are used in around 93 per cent of aerosol
cans.
Consumer products
Professor Alastair Lewis from
the Department of
Chemistry and a Director of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science said:
“Virtually all aerosol based consumer products can be delivered in non-aerosol
form, for example as dry or roll-on deodorants, bars of polish not spray.
Making just small changes in what we buy could have a major impact on both
outdoor and indoor air quality, and have relatively little impact on our lives.
“The widespread switching of aerosol propellant with non-VOC
alternatives would lead to potentially meaningful reductions in surface ozone.
“Given the contribution of VOCs to ground-level pollution,
international policy revision is required and the continued support of VOCs as
a preferred replacement for halocarbons is potentially not sustainable for
aerosol products longer term.”
The report says there are already non-aerosol alternatives that
can be easily be applied in their liquid or solid forms, for example, as
roll-on deodorant, hair gel, solid furniture polish, bronzing lotion, and room
fragrance.
Air pollution
Study authors conclude that the continued use of aerosols when
non-aerosol alternatives exist is often down to the continuation of past
consumer habits. And that the role played by aerosol VOC emissions in air
pollution needs to be much more clearly articulated in messaging on air
pollution and its management to the public.
Professor Lewis added: “Labelling of consumer products as high VOC
emitting—and clearly linking this to poor indoor and outdoor air quality—may
drive change away from aerosols to their alternatives, as has been seen
previously with the successful labelling of paints and varnishes.”
Amber Yeoman, a PhD student from the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry
Laboratories was a co-author of the study which used data from industry and
regulatory bodies from around the world.
