The research looked specifically at air pollution in the Los Angeles area, long thought to be choked with smog created by the region's abundant traffic. "As transportation gets cleaner, those other sources become more and more important," said NOAA scientist Brian McDonald, lead author of the study published today in Science. Part of the reason for the surprising contribution from everyday products has to do with the way they're used. "Volatile chemical products used in common solvents and personal care products are literally designed to evaporate. You wear perfume or use scented products so that you or your neighbor can enjoy the aroma," explained NOAA scientist and co-author Jessica Gilman.

Source: Forbes February 15, 2018 19:01 UTC