VOCs in Essential oils
See VOC definition below **
STUDY about VOCs in essential oils below ***
I love essential oils. I used them a lot in my recovery from Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. I consider myself to have had a Medium Level MCS. I was pretty much housebound for a few years. I did want to move to the desert far away from gasoline, pollution & toxins. However, I was never hospitalized, never had an anaphylactic shock or any serious reaction, besides asthma, EMF sensitivity, anxiety, depression, deep brain fog, memory loss, brain function loss, problems with my nervous system, persistent cough. Of course, my sense of smell for toxins was about 800 times the average person. So, I didn’t need to be told if there were toxins in something, I could smell it or sense it. That said, some people sense even more toxins than I did.
I smelled toxins in Young Living Oils. I smelled toxins in some other “organic” oils. I used Aura Cacia & Natures Alchemy, CERTIFIED ORGANIC (not that that is always accurate). When I had MCS/EI Patchouli, Lavender, Geranium & citrus cleaners irritated me. Very strong citrus air freshener can still be irritating to my lungs. Other oils, like Eucalyptus, I used for my asthma. In several ” Pure Rose” oils products, I could sense were synthetic. Rose is a very expensive oil, so that makes sense many are not actually rose. Other expensive oils like Frankincense are often counterfeit.
Large numbers of VOCs are relatively benign. Vegetation is a major source of isoprene a VOC that gets emitted naturally from tree species like poplar, eucalyptus, oak. Many small shrubs and bushes also emit VOCs.
I have used essential oils in a lot of ways. When I had to use the public sauna, I would put them on a cloth and breathe them in. I am no doctor. I feel that small amounts of VOCs are a part of life and are in things like vinegar and plants.
I love essential oils and I feel they are a very beneficial part of my healing. I did figure out that smelling beautiful plants has an equal and opposite reaction as smelling synthetic toxins. They can also relieve the anxiety and actual toxin PTSD caused by Chemical Sensitivity upon encountering neurotoxic chemicals like gasoline or air-fresheners. I used to have a theory that the essential oil would fill the place of the “sticky molecules’ that are nasty fixatives that make synthetic scents last longer. I thought of the inside of my nose like a sponge. I postulated if the Positive Neuro-Enhancing molecules were there in my nose & surrounding skin, then the NeuroToxic molecules wouldn’t have a place to stick. I knew for sure, that they made me feel good. I have later learned that they are used in cutting edge PTSD therapy. I learned that essential oils can stop a PTSD reaction trigger. This makes perfect sense because it is similar to why people snort cocaine up their noses in order to INSTANTLY FEEL DIFFERENT. What goes into the nose can more easily get into the brain and affect thoughts and feelings. This is why smells are closely associated with memory and emotions. So, when we smell these plants with all of their various healing properties, it affects us instantly. It is a positive trigger for those who like the smell.
So, lots of EI/MCS people are adversely affected by almost all smells and any toxic VOC as described below. Of course, don’t ever eat, smell or spend time with something that your body is telling you is harmful or uncomfortable. When the body is detoxing and processing the VOCs in essential oils, then it is not a problem. Of the certified organic brands that I use, I feel a lot of benefit in them.
As people who are chemically sensitive, have fragrance allergy, or Environmental Illness it is up to us to find what oils are the worst and educate the public about them. People are now understanding the harm in synthetic scents. Many places are fragrance-free. Personally, I don’t think people will stop using fragrances. So, I think it is helpful to know the scents with the most natural and positive benefit fragrances for people’s private spaces. I do think we need to find out which are oils have the most VOCs and make efforts to educate about that. It is going to take time for people to learn than NO SCENT is very fresh and nice. Sadly, people still cover up mold, dirty clothes and trash smell with anything they can. Also, people love fragrance and this is thousands of years going and won’t change soon. Fragrance is positive and when we can rid our world of toxic smells & daily toxins then we won’t have these illnesses and it will be ok. “Detox With Ease” Is my book and philosophy available on Amazon. Key in Hennessa or Detox With Ease
The reason, myself and many of you who are chemically sensitive and have fragrance allergy, had that heart-breaking and radically life-altering decision to just stay home & have no social life at all, is because there was no possible way to get friends, family, religious organizations, businesses etc to understand what we mean by fragrance (we mean any minute particle) and how to change it. Now that I recovered from this, I realize that a balanced view will get us more success in changing the world. Toxins are harmful to everyone in the daily doses we are confronted with. Let’s do what we can to change the toxin culture. With essential oils, I say don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. There is great benefit for many people.
MY LIST OF FAVORITES! Amazon Detox Shop Essential Oils
Please email me if you know what are the essential oils with the most VOCs evespotofgold@gmail.com
I do have as a mission to rid the world of completely useless toxins like are in Laundry detergents, air fresheners etc. If you want to help me donate or help me edit or post on Instagram. Thanks!
**Volatile Organic Compounds Definition
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that readily produce vapors at ambient temperatures, and are therefore emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. All organic compounds contain carbon, and organic chemicals are the basic chemicals found in all living things. Many organic compounds in our air today do not occur naturally but are instead man-made, formed during industrial processes or combustion. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Sources of VOCs include gasoline, industrial chemicals such as benzene, solvents such as toluene and xylene, and perchloroethylene (principal dry cleaning solvent). VOCs are also released from burning fuel, such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, and solvents, paints, glues, and other products used at home or work. Many VOCs are also classified by the U.S. EPA as ‘air toxins.’ Toxic air pollutants are defined as those pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects. In the United States, industrial processes and vehicle emissions are the dominant sources of outdoor VOCs (U.S. EPA, 2012).
***Abstract ABOUT VOCS in Essential Oils
Essential oils, widely used in society, emit numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some of these
VOCs in Essential oils are considered potentially hazardous under federal regulations. However, essential oils are exempt from disclosure of their ingredients on their labels. Thus, the public may lack information on emissions and potential hazards from essential oils. This study examined VOCs emitted from a range of commercial essential oils, including tea tree oils, lavender oils, eucalyptus oils, and other individual oils and mixtures of oils. Using headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), the study analyzed 24 commercial essential oils, including 12 with claims of being “natural” or related terms, such as organic, 100% pure, or plant-based. Results identified 595 VOCs emitted from the 24 essential oils, representing 188 different VOCs. The most common VOCs emitted were alpha-pinene, limonene, acetone, linalool, alpha-phellandrene, beta-myrcene, and camphene. Among the 589 VOCs identified, 124 VOCs, representing 33 different VOCs, are classified as potentially hazardous. All-natural and regular essential oils emitted one or more potentially hazardous VOCs, such as acetaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. Toluene was also found in 50% of essential oils. Moreover, for the prevalent VOCs classified as potentially hazardous, no significant difference was found between regular and natural essential oils. This study provides insights and information about emissions of commercial essential oils that can be useful for public awareness and risk reduction.
The study received support from the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (RTP), through the University of Melbourne; the Australian Department of Education and Training (Australian Postgraduate Award); and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). This article is dedicated to the memory of Neda Yarmahmoudi.
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