The parents of a girl who died after inhaling aerosol deodorant are calling for clearer labeling to warn people of the potential dangers.
Giorgia Green, 14, living in Derby, England, went into cardiac arrest after spraying deodorant in her bedroom in 2022.
Since then, their parents have learned of other young people who accidentally died after inhaling deodorant.
The British Association of Aerosol Manufacturers (Bama, for its acronym in English) argues that deodorants have “very clear warnings”.
In the UK, aerosol deodorants must have a “keep out of reach of children” warning printed on the packaging.
In Brazil, a 1976 law prohibited products intended for use by children from being sold in aerosol form. In 2022, a resolution by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) began to specify warnings that aerosol labels must carry, including “avoid direct inhalation of this product”, “keep out of reach of children” and “protect eyes during application”.
Giorgia’s parents say that in the UK the warning is currently in very small print and that many parents must buy deodorants for their children without noticing the warning.
“People don’t know how dangerous the contents of these cans can be,” says Giorgia’s father, Paul. “I wish no one else in the country — or the world — goes through what we went through.”
“We don’t want our daughter’s death to be in vain.”
They defend that deodorants come with a warning saying that the product “can kill instantly” and say that their daughter did not abuse the item.
Giorgia was autistic and her father says she liked to spray deodorant on the blankets because she found the smell comforting.
“The smell gave her a certain sense of relaxation,” says Paul Green. “If she was feeling a little anxious, she would spray on the deodorant and that felt comforting because it was the deodorant my wife used.”
Giorgia’s older brother found her unconscious in her bedroom on May 11, 2022.
“Her door was open, so it wasn’t a closed environment,” says the father. “The exact amount [de desodorante inalada] It’s unclear, but it would be more than a person would normally use.”
“At some point, her heart stopped after the inhalations.”
An inquest into Giorgia’s death was conducted, and investigators concluded that it was an accident. The medical cause of death was recorded as “not determined but consistent with aerosol inhalation”.
According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), the word “deodorant” was mentioned on 11 death certificates between 2001 and 2020. However, the actual number of deaths from this cause is likely to be higher, because specific substances are not always mentioned on death certificates.
Giorgia’s death certificate, for example, mentioned “aerosol inhalation” instead of “deodorant”.
Butane — the main propellant in Giorgia deodorant — was reported to be involved in 324 deaths between 2001 and 2020. Propane and isobutane — also present in Giorgia deodorant — were mentioned in 123 and 38 deaths, respectively.
The ONS said the substances have been linked to several deaths, adding: “Inhalation of butane or propane gas can lead to heart failure.”
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) claims that several people have already died after excessive activation of the spray of deodorants.
‘common misconception’
Ashley Martin, public health consultant for RoSPA, says, “It’s easy to assume they’re completely safe and completely risk-free. The truth is, they’re not.”
“Inhaling large amounts of aerosols, not just deodorants, can lead to a range of life-threatening scenarios — from fainting and breathing difficulties to changes in heart rhythm and, unfortunately, death.”
“There is a common misconception that aerosol deaths only happen in a substance abuse setting, but this is not true.”
“We’ve seen a number of fatalities in recent years where children and young adults overspray aerosols — from teenagers concerned about body odor to children seeking comfort in familiar smells.”
Giorgia’s parents say they have found some of these cases through their own research. One was 12-year-old Daniel Hurley, also from Derbyshire, who collapsed and died after spraying deodorant in a bathroom.
“That was 2008, but my daughter died in 2022,” says Green. “Awareness on the subject is not enough.”
More recently, 13-year-old Jack Waple died in circumstances similar to Giorgia’s, in 2019. The inquiry arrived at the information that the teenager sprayed deodorant when he felt anxious when his mother left the house, as the odor reminded him of her.
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