A quick spray of perfume or a dab of lotion might be interfering with a protective chemical layer that naturally forms around your body, according to new research published in Science Advances. This invisible shield, known as the human oxidation field, plays a role in filtering the air we breathe—but personal care products might disrupt it in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
The Human Oxidation Field: Your Chemical “Force Field”
Discovered in 2022, the human oxidation field is formed when natural oils on our skin react with ozone in the air. This reaction creates hydroxyl (OH) radicals—highly reactive molecules known as the atmosphere’s “detergent” because they help neutralize pollutants.
Scientists believe this field not only protects our skin but also influences the chemical makeup of the air we inhale. But what happens when we layer on perfumes, lotions, or other personal care products?
Personal Care Products Can Alter Air Chemistry
In the latest study, researchers at the Max Planck Institute observed the chemical environment surrounding four young adults in a temperature-controlled indoor space. When participants applied lotion or fragrance beforehand, the products began to alter the surrounding air.
Specifically, chemicals like phenoxyethanol and ethanol were detected rising from the skin in “thermal plumes”—heat-driven air currents that transport molecules. Levels of these substances around the face were nearly three times higher than in the room’s general air even 10 minutes after application.
When ozone was introduced into the environment, researchers observed that the skin’s natural reaction with ozone—crucial to forming the oxidation field—was disrupted. Lotion and fragrance interfered with the production of OH radicals, reducing their concentration around the participants by up to 34%.
Similar results were found when fragrance was applied to just the hands: chemicals such as monoterpenes increased tenfold around the head and reacted with the oxidation field, weakening its presence.
Potential Health Implications
Although this study focused on chemical interactions—not on health effects—the results raise important questions. When our body’s oxidation field is altered, it can change how pollutants or volatile compounds interact with our skin and lungs.
“We need to rethink indoor chemistry in occupied spaces,” said atmospheric chemist Jonathan Williams, who led the 2022 study. “The oxidation field we create will transform many of the chemicals in our immediate vicinity, creating a multitude of products directly in our breathing zone with as yet unknown health impacts.”
While more research is needed to understand these effects, the findings suggest that personal care products may not be as harmless as they seem—at least not when it comes to our chemical surroundings.
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