Indoor air freshener: new oscillations to prevent infection
In daily life, many people believe that the use of indoor air fresheners can prevent infection, and are then frequently sprayed in their homes, offices, etc. However, this is actually a mistake.
Indoor air fresheners, by their very nature, are mainly products used to improve the indoor odour environment. It conceals the scent by giving people a fresh sense of smell. The components typically include spices, organic solvents and some additives. The spice is a key substance for the creation of a variety of fragrances, and organic solvents contribute to the volatilization of the spices, thus enabling them to spread rapidly in the air.
The infection is a series of pathological processes caused by the intrusion of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi into the human body and their reproduction in the body. In the case of common respiratory infections, such as influenza viruses, which are transmitted mainly through flue, when the infected person coughs and sneezes, the virus is spread in the air with the flu, and the healthy person is exposed to infection by inhalation of the virus-containing foam. There are also bacterial infections, such as Bacillus tuberculosis, that can be suspended in the air for long periods of time, which can be transported through the air into the human respiratory tract, causing disease in areas such as the lungs.
Air fresheners do not target the extinction or inhibition of these pathogens. It merely changes our perception of the air smell and has no substantial impact on the number and activity of pathogens actually present in the air. Even in environments where air fresheners are used, people are at risk of infection if the source of infection exists and the transmission route is not blocked. For example, in a closed and heavily staffed office during the high-prevalence flu season, even when air fresheners are used, influenza viruses can spread between people.
In addition, some poor-quality air fresh agents may have a negative impact on human health. The volatilization of organic solvents in some air fresheners may stimulate respiratory mucous membranes, reduce respiratory defence capacity and instead increase vulnerability to infection. The long-term use of air fresheners with certain chemical components may also cause potential harm to the human nervous system, immune system, etc.
There are many effective ways to truly prevent infection. The first is to improve ventilation, which reduces the concentration of indoor pathogens through air circulation. In the morning and evening, for example, when the weather is cooler, open windows, let fresh air into the room and dilute possible pathogens. The second is to maintain good hygiene practices, to wash hands, to wash hands using soap and mobile water in accordance with the correct hand-washing method, to effectively remove the pathogens contaminated with the hands and to avoid hand-to-mouth transmission of infection. Furthermore, for specific sources of infection, targeted disinfection measures, such as the use of alcohol-containing disinfectants to wipe surfaces of objects that are frequently exposed, can kill some common bacteria and viruses. In the flu season, influenza vaccinations are also available to increase human immunity against influenza viruses, thereby reducing vulnerability.
In our daily lives, we should properly understand the role of indoor air fresheners and not treat them as a “godgy” to prevent infection. Science-oriented, multi-pronged approaches can be effective in preventing infection, creating a healthy living and working environment, and safeguarding the health of oneself and others.
