Metered aerosol battery-powered air fresheners spray fragrance and solvents, such as acetone, into the air at timed intervals. Metered aerosols first appeared on the market in the 1950’s. They are still widely used today despite there being more effective, eco-friendly solutions available. Metered aerosols have raised health concerns, can be harmful to the environment and do not provide consistent fragrance performance.

If metered aerosols are so ineffective and potentially harmful, why are people still using them? The lack of knowledge and awareness on the harmful effects of metered aerosol may be to blame. The first, and probably most concerning, issue is that metered aerosols have raised questions on potential adverse health effects.

There are 5 hazard statements on most metered aerosol air fresheners:

A quote from an article by Conrad Fox from Mongabay News titled “Aerosol pollution: Destabilizing Earth’s climate and a threat to health” states “Aerosols impact almost every part of the human body, depending upon the composition, exposure amount and size,” says Bhupesh Adhikary, an air pollution specialist at the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and a lead author for the most recent assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)” (Fox, 2022, para. 10). The worst aerosols, he says, are very fine particulates, “that can penetrate deep into the lungs and may even enter the blood stream,” exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. (Fox, 2022, para. 11).

Another concern with metered aerosol is that they can be harmful to the environment. Metered aerosol cans are often disposed of improperly, leading to increased waste and potential pollution. Because the cans are also at risk for explosion, improper disposal can even cause fires.

Finally, metered aerosol simply isn’t very effective when it comes to air freshening. They are set on a timer to spray every so often, such as every 15 or 30 minutes, which leads to inconsistent fragrance in the space. When the unit sprays, the fragrance is too overpowering but then quickly fades, leaving no pleasant smell for another 15 or 30 minutes.  The spray can also leave behind a sticky residue as the solvents drop to the floor.