AEROSOLS

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENT POSSIBLE EFFECTS
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS When released into the air, destroys the ozone layer in the earth's upper atmosphere. No longer used in aerosol products manufactured in the USA.

Aerosol sprays (e.g., furniture polish, deodorant, and air freshener) contain an active ingredient and a liquid or gaseous propellant that is packed under at least 40 pounds of pressure per square inch. These pressurized aerosol containers are explosive and may be flammable. The actual product propelled by the aerosol, such as some oven cleaners, can be corrosive or poisonous, therefore requiring great care.

Aerosol sprays should be used with care. The fine particles emitted from aerosol sprays are easily breathed deeply into the lungs and quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, a chemical that is harmless to your skin may become extremely dangerous if inhaled as a mist. Acute symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, eye and throat irritation, skin rash, burns, lung inflammation, and liver damage. If spray is misdirected, chemical burns and eye injury can also occur. Intentionally inhaling aerosol gases for kicks, sometimes called "sniffing" or "huffing," has resulted in the death of several young Americans.

An aerosol container should never be heated significantly above room temperature because it can explode. Storage of cans in direct sunlight, car trunks, and near furnaces, stoves, and ovens can result in explosion. When heated, aerosol gases can turn into toxic gases including fluorine, chlorine, chloride or hydrogen fluoride, or phosgene (military nerve gas). Breathing these vapors can be very harmful to you.

Significant environmental impact from aerosol sprays led to alterations in their design. Several of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that have been used in aerosol sprays in the past reacted with and reduced the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. Reduction in the ozone layer and the resulting rise in ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth can result in increased rates of skin cancer, skin aging, eye damage, and Vitamin D poisoning. Before buying or using aerosol sprays, weigh their convenience against their potential health and environmental hazards.

Use: Consider alternatives to aerosol sprays, including alternative methods of application. If you are using an aerosol spray, try not to breathe the released particles; stand out of the way of the mist and make certain the mist is being blown away from you. (An exception to this advice is for bronchial or asthma medication dispensed by aerosol spray.)

Storage: Do not store near heat or flames. Keep away from children.

Disposal: If the aerosol can is empty, dispose of it in the trash bound for the landfill. Aerosol cans burned in trash barrels can explode, scattering propellant and product. If ingredients are left in the can the best thing to do is to use the product up as intended. If you must dispose of an aerosol can that isn't empty, discharge the contents of the container into a deep cardboard box outdoors, and allow it to dry. When the can is empty, it and the cardboard box can be thrown in the trash. If you discharge the contents be very careful: Do not spray near children, animals, or areas of human contact such as playgrounds or gardens. Avoid inhaling the vapors.

Alternatives: For the most part, aerosol sprays are no more effective than pouring, wiping, brushing, or dusting. Try to purchase products in pump spray, roll-on, liquid, or non-aerosol spray. Spray guns may be desirable in a case where you want to cover a large surface evenly.

© Copyright