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Medical copays reduce health care access in MS prisons; Israel planted explosives in pagers sold to Hezbollah according to official sources; Serving looks with books: Libraries fight 'fast fashion' by lending clothes; Menhaden decline threatens Virginia's ecosystem, fisheries.

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JD Vance calls for toning down political rhetoric, while calls for his resignation grow because of his own comments. The Secret Service again faces intense criticism, and a right to IVF is again voted down in the US Senate.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Researchers: Household Products Threatening Our Air

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Tuesday, February 27, 2018   

INDIANAPOLIS – Because cars are now dramatically cleaner than they used to be, products such as skin lotions and indoor cleaners are becoming the dominant source of urban air emissions, according to a new study.

University of Colorado lead author and scientist Brian McDonald says common household products such as printer ink or cleaning agents are now a major cause for concern because the transportation industry is much cleaner than it was 50 to 100 years ago.

"What this means is that, as emissions from tailpipe sources come down, then other sources from everyday use of chemical products - things like pesticides, paints, perfumes - are becoming a more and more important source of emissions of these volatile organic compounds," he explains.

The study was published in the journal Science and conducted by CU's Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences.

McDonald's study measured "volatile organic compounds" - which play a significant role in the formation of ozone and fine particulates in the atmosphere. He notes that tiny particles damage people's lungs.

"Fine particulate matter is one of the largest sources of human health impacts when you're thinking about air pollution," he warns.

He says those volatile compounds are commonly found in fumes generated by furniture polish, detergents, soaps, pesticides and other petroleum-based products.

McDonald says, in terms of meeting air-quality standards, it's important to know that what we use in our everyday lives is impacting air pollution.

"And what we found was that the concentration of chemicals is roughly seven times higher than in the outdoor air," says McDonald. "Just pointing out that when you're considering exposure to air pollution, it's not just what you breathe outdoors, but it's also what you breathe indoors as well."


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