Air Freshener induced Oxidative Stress and Adveresly affects Immunity

Recently, the use of ‘sunlight’ air freshener in Nigeria is on the increase. Some people use air
freshener in the office, car as well as in their homes, thereby constantly being exposed to it without
consideration of its adverse effect on human health. This study is therefore aimed at assessing the
effect of “sunlight” air freshener on oxidative stress biomarkers. Thirty (30) Wistar rats were divided
into three groups of ten each and kept in different rooms. Rats in group 1 were not exposed to any
substance; those in groups 2 and 3 were exposed to sunlight air freshener for 8 hours daily for 28
days by inhalation. After 28 days exposure, animals in group 3 were allowed to recover for 14 days.
Throughout the experiment, all animals were fed ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. At
the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed after an overnight fast under diethyl ether as
anesthesia. Blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture. Oxidative stress biomarkers
were determined using standard methods. The result showed that air freshener significantly
increased lipid peroxidation but significantly reduced glutathione concentration after 28 days of
exposure. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione
peroxidase) were observed to significantly increase due to air freshener exposure when compared
with those in the control group. The effects of air freshener on oxidative stress biomarkers (except
glutathione) were reversed when animals exposed to air freshener for 28 days were allowed to
recover for 14 days. This study revealed that sunlight air freshener induced oxidative stress, thus
possesses the propensity to destroy the immune system. Frequent use of this air freshener should
be discouraged.