Diffusers of essential oils, supposed to purify or purify the air, can be a source of indoor air pollution, according to the health agency Anses, which calls for "vigilance" when faced with products likely to cause effects. undesirable. Lavandin, sweet orange, Scots pine or lemon: sprays and diffusers of essential oils are increasingly present in homes, notes ANSES in a notice published on Tuesday. But the expected beneficial effect is not necessarily there. Between 2011 and early 2019, more than 1,400 cases of symptomatic exposure to these products were reported to poison control centers.
>> READ ALSO : Diffuse essential oils at home, a false good idea
Accidental exposure, irritations, respiratory effects
Most were linked to accidental exposure (in particular, ingestion by children), but this toxicovigilance survey nonetheless found cases of "undesirable effects under normal conditions of use, in particular eye irritant symptoms, throat and nose, and respiratory effects. "
These irritations can be linked to the phenols or ketones present in the oils, irritating for the respiratory tract and "unsuitable" for their diffusion by a spray or a diffuser, explains ANSES, noting however that the symptoms "are largely low severity and regress quickly after exposure stops. "
>> READ ALSO: Good ideas to purify the air in your home
The agency also points out that these products "emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can constitute a source of indoor air pollution" and add to the VOCs from furniture or cleaning products. Even of natural origin, these VOCs, like terpenes, can have irritant properties.
The insufficiency of scientific data in this area does not allow definitive conclusions to be drawn on the risks for the general population, or for certain groups such as asthmatics, but the "signals" call however "for vigilance", insists ANSES , which calls for new studies.
In the meantime, the agency calls to keep these products out of the reach of children, to better inform consumers about the precautions for use and to ventilate well enclosed spaces.
Ineffective against coronavirus
In all cases, these essential oils "do not constitute a means of fighting against the coronavirus", reminds ANSES in a press release, noting several "risk" uses (self-medication by using essential oils by oral route, inappropriate use to disinfect a surgical mask ...). She recommends that people with respiratory conditions as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women not use them at all.
Tuesday's opinion on essential oil diffusers follows a precedent published in 2017 on air purifiers. She then estimated that these devices (filtration, ionization, "sanitizing" sprays ...) had not demonstrated their effectiveness and could even emit compounds "harmful" to health.