Be careful: deodorant can kill you

The inconsolable father decided to warn about the dangers of deodorants after the death of his 14-year-old daughter.

Georgia’s parents want to warn others of the potential danger and urge people to read the small print labels carefully – spray deodorants can be deadly.

The girl’s parents say their child died after spraying a pleasant scent in his bedroom – Georgia Green went into cardiac arrest. writes Air Force. After her death, her parents became aware of two more deaths, the cause of which was also deodorant.

In response to complaints from parents, the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA) said that deodorants have “very clear warnings”. By law, indeed, they must be printed with the warning “Keep out of the reach of children,” but the inscription is too small to attract attention. The girl’s parents are sure that many parents buy deodorant for their children without noticing this warning. Father says:

“People don’t know how dangerous the contents of these jars can be. I wish no one else in the country – or in the world – had to go through what we personally went through. We don’t want our daughter’s death to be in vain.”

Paul Green said that the smell of deodorant gave his daughter with autism a “feeling of comfort”, the smell calmed her. She enjoyed spraying deodorant on her blankets because “the smell gave her a certain sense of relaxation”:

“If she felt any anxiety, she sprayed this spray and it gave her a feeling of comfort, because this is the deodorant that my wife used.”

The girl’s older brother found her lifeless in her bedroom on May 11, 2022. Paul says:

“Her door was open, so it didn’t feel like an enclosed space. Exact amount [дезодоранта] not clear, but it should be more than what you usually spray. At some point, her heart stopped as a result of inhaling.”

After Georgia’s death, an inquest was held and the coroner issued an accident report. The medical cause of death was “unspecified, but consistent with aerosol inhalation”.

RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) stated that this is a “common misconception” and that people only die when they overuse deodorants. Between 2001 and 2020, “deodorant” was mentioned on 11 death certificates, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Experts argue that the actual number of deaths is likely higher, as specific substances are not always mentioned in these documents. Georgia’s death certificate, for example, does not mention deodorant, but “aerosol inhalation.”

Butane, the main ingredient in the deceased girl’s deodorant, was reported to be involved in 324 deaths between 2001 and 2020. Propane and isobutane, which were also contained in that facility, were mentioned in 123 and 38 deaths respectively. The ONS stated that these substances have been linked to a number of deaths, noting, “Inhalation of butane or propane can lead to heart failure.”

RoSPA reported that several people have died due to overspray of deodorants. And the Public Health Adviser noted:

“It is easy to assume that they are completely safe and completely free of risk. Actually it is not. Inhaling large amounts of aerosols, not just deodorants, can lead to a range of life-threatening situations, from blackouts and difficulty breathing to changes in heart rate and, unfortunately, death. There is a common misconception that deaths from aerosols only happen with substance abuse, but this is absolutely not true. In recent years, we have seen a number of fatal cases of children and young adults overspraying aerosols, from body odor-conscious teenagers to children seeking solace from familiar scents.”

Many aerosol deodorants are labeled with a warning that “overuse can kill instantly.” This is not a legal requirement, but a BAMA recommendation, as some people inhale aerosols to intentionally “get high”.

Georgia’s parents believe that the word “abuse” should be changed to “use” in the warning – Georgia did not abuse deodorant. Aerosol products should also contain instructions for their correct use, written after a risk assessment carried out by the manufacturer. For example: “Use short sprays in well-ventilated areas.”

The British Aerosol Manufacturers Association said it was “deeply saddened” by Georgia’s death. The statement says:

“The British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA) takes any incident involving aerosol products very seriously and we were deeply saddened to learn of the death of such a young girl. As an industry association, we work with manufacturers to ensure aerosols are made to the highest safety standards with very clear warnings and instructions for use, and we recommend that anyone using an aerosol do so in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. We also recommend that a number of additional warnings and instructions for use be applied beyond those required by law and continue to be reviewed to promote the safe use of aerosols.”

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