Kids are dying from inhaling the fumes of aerosol deodorants. The main ingredient in aerosol is butane. It was linked to over 300 deaths between 2001 and 2020. Other deodorant ingredients, isobutane, and propane were linked to 38 and 123 deaths, respectively.
In May, 2022, Giorgia Green, a teenage girl in the United Kingdom died after spraying aerosol deodorant in her room and inhaling the fumes.
Giorgia’s older brother found her unresponsive in her room with the door open. According to her father, she did not die in a closed room, and the amount of deodorant she sprayed was excessive.
The 14-year-old died of a cardiac arrest.
Her devastated parents are speaking out, trying to change the labeling on the deodorant products and warning people about the dangers.
Giorgia’s parents called her death a preventable accident and have since learned about other youngsters who died after breathing in deodorant aerosol fumes.
Giorgia’s father, Paul Green, said he made it his mission to ensure that no one else goes through what he and his family suffered through.
The British Aerosol Manufacturers Association says that the products have warnings printed on them. Under British law, aerosol deodorants must have the “keep out of reach of children” warning printed on them.
Giorgia’s parents say more is needed and the warnings are always printed in tiny letters.
Green explained that his daughter was autistic and sprayed the deodorant in her room and on her blankets before sleeping because the odor made her relax, especially when she was anxious, because it was her mother’s deodorant and it reminded her of her mother.
An autopsy confirmed that Giorgia died from inhalation of the aerosol fumes.
According to the UK’s National Statistics office, between 2001 and 2020, 11 death certificates mentioned deodorant inhalation.
There have been other cases of young people dying after spraying aerosol deodorant. Daniel Hurley, a 12-year-old from Derbyshire, died in 2008 after spraying deodorant on himself and collapsing in the bathroom.
The most recent case was in 2019, when Jack Waple, 13, died after spraying deodorant to calm feelings of anxiety when his mom left their home, because it reminded him of her.
The Aerosol Manufacturers Association recommends that all aerosol deodorants warn users that solvent abuse can lead to instant death.
Giorgia’s parents want that warning to change to exclude the word abuse and include information about how much is dangerous to use.