Essential Oils Can Battle Indoor Pollution, Study Finds

Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. essential oil / əˈsɛn ʃəl ɔɪl / (n) – oil extracted from plants
    Example:

    Perfumes are made from essential oils of different plants.


  2. pollutant / pəˈlut nt / (n) – something that makes water, land, air, etc. unsafe to use
    Example:

    Smoke from cars is a common air pollutant.


  3. ventilation / ˌvɛn tlˈeɪ ʃən / (n) – the free movement of air in a room, building, etc.
    Example:

    Rooms without windows have poor ventilation.


  4. microbe / ˈmaɪ kroʊb / (n) – very small living things, especially disease-causing bacteria
    Example:

    Using sanitizers regularly helps get rid of microbes.


  5. fight off / faɪt ɔf / (phrasal) – to keep something (e.g. an illness) away
    Example:

    He fights off colds by taking vitamins regularly.


Article

Read the text below.

A new study has found that essential oils can battle indoor pollution, which worsens asthma and other lung diseases.


More experts have pointed out that indoor pollution is aggravating lung ailments in the United States and the United Kingdom. Indoor pollutants include open fires, pets, gas cookers, cleaning chemicals, central heating, and mold.


According to Professor Tim Sharpe, a researcher of environmental architecture, modern homes have poor ventilation, making them more prone to indoor pollutants. Now, new research from healthcare company Puressentiel revealed that essential oils can help improve air quality indoors.


For the study, the researchers tested if a spray made from a mixture of antibacterial essential oils could reduce indoor pollutants. The spray proved effective against dust mites, fungal spores, and bacteria, which can trigger asthma or cause other lung diseases. The essential oil mixture was also found to improve the lung condition of 53 volunteers who had respiratory problems after it was sprayed regularly in their homes.


The study’s findings agree with some experts’ opinions on essential oils. Medical herbalist Christopher Etheridge said that essential oils have powerful chemicals with a wide range of benefits. In addition, microbiology expert Mark Fielder said that combining these substances can make them more effective against microbes.


In addition to fighting lung diseases, essential oils have other health benefits. For example, eucalyptus improves the immune response by strengthening white blood cells that eat bacteria. Also, thyme has chemicals that can directly attack bacteria. Other oils such as lavender, frankincense, lemon, peppermint, and tea tree are known to relax the body, relieve pain, treat skin conditions, enhance digestion, fight off cough and flu symptoms, and even lessen wrinkles.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• In your country, how do people usually maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of their homes?
• After reading this article, what changes will you implement in your home to lessen indoor pollution?

Discussion B

• Should governments set guidelines for battling indoor pollution in households (e.g. restricting use of products that cause pollution)? Discuss.
• If companies find out that their products cause or worsen indoor pollution, what steps should they take? Discuss.