Environmental Risks Explained by an expert -showers, swimming, hiking

All I can say is to try it and see. Some people with Bronchiectasis or other lung issues are very sensitive to smells, others not so much.
What is a VOC (volatile organic compound)? Any chemical, natura or synthetic, that vaporizes easily into the air. That includes industrial compounds, natural substances (like the esters and oils in herbs, scents from flowers, cooking aromas.)

Are all VOC's bad for us? Not necessarily! My concern with vaporizers with essential oils, scented waxes, or scented candles are the OTHER things that are vaporizing and lingering in the air, not the scents themselves - impurities in the wax, possible conversion of the VOC in the carrier oils due to high temperature...the paper referenced by @scoop above seems to reinforce that idea, as heat is generally applied in gas chromatography to separate the compounds for measurement.

What do I do? I continue to use high-quality essential oils from a known source that are tested for purity - at room temperature or body temperature. If I make mixtures, I use fresh food-grade oil as the carrier and make small batches so nothing gets rancid. I clean my containers thoroughly and sanitize in the dishwasher.

I would think that using fresh herbs in a pot that reaches at least 180F would be safe as well, but as an added protection I would use boiled water or spring water.

Each of us has our own comfort level - mine may be more or less conservative than yours.

What company do you purchase your essential oils from? When I was diffusing I purchased from a Canadian company, https://www.saje.com. I need to do some more research about what other stuff they might put in their oils. Or continue not diffusing.

Barbara - It all comes down to know and trust your source. I buy spices only from established sellers. When it come to turmeric, mine comes from our local food co-op who diligently vet their distributors. I could go right down the block and buy from the Asian market a lot cheaper, but I don't know where their stuff comes from nor whether it is pure turmeric.

That said, in my humble opinion, turmeric tea made from powder is yukky and unpleasant to drink. The Japanese make theirs with dried turmeric root (much like you make ginger tea from ginger root) that might be better. Or you can buy turmeric tea already in tea bags from a number of providers of herbal teas.

So, d you trust the source? Try it! If not mybe try the root or a commercial tea?

I hold my breath anytime there is dust or smoke, and then put on a mask or respirator. We decided not to get a leaf blower because it will just blow everything into the air. I also have trouble in hotels because of carpet powder used in cleaning and I take a respirator with me just in case. I’ve also hauled an air filter with me into hotels and that is a lot of extra effort.

@jenniferhunter
I see your sweet
Picture on a beautiful horse. I have a horse too and I was wondering what you do at the barn in terms of wearing a mask.

@shelly61 Thank you. The photo I have here is of my old horse and the last time I rode him as he was aging right before he retired. I bought a younger horse and had both for a while. My older horse passed a few years ago. When there is dust either inside a barn or outside, I simply pay attention to air currents to try to stay upwind and hold my breath when I need to do that. I have asthma and don't want to inhale any of it. I do sometimes put on an N95, but it's usually too hot to wear one while doing physical work. I'm mostly outside grooming the horse and I don't have an inside arena. I kind of worry about that for the dust that gets kicked up and I don't want to breathe it. My horse is boarded and I don't have to do a lot of chores. Sometimes I have breathing issues due to asthma and I do have a respirator in my car in case I'm out anywhere and really can't breathe. I also have a can of oxygen and it really helps during those times my lungs are reactive and I am waiting for the inhaler to kick in. I have to be careful with hay and not breathe the dust. It can have mold in it, and my horse is pretty sensitive to that too. If he gets exposed to it, I have to give him antihistamines too. He's actually getting small square hay bales because they have a lot less mold and those large round spools of hay usually have a lot of mold in them because they are wound so tight. The farm recently had to get round spools because of supply issues, and my horse was coughing, so they just got the small bales for him and he's OK now. He's getting his own hay in a stall with pasture grazing part of the day. Sometimes while trail riding, you may go past a wet area that has a lot of mold spores. I will give my horse his antihistamine before we go out just in case and I have my inhaler with me. Horses are wonderful, aren't they? I'd love to hear about yours. How do you manage with dust avoidance?

Wow....'you go girl'...... live your life with your 'buddy,' that beautiful horse. Animals are remarkable! Hope, all in all, you and your 'buddy' can manage it all well enough to keep yourselves out of the 'trouble' we all know can happen no matter how careful we are.
Happy trails to you and your beautiful 'buddy'.
Barbara.

@shelly61 Thank you. The photo I have here is of my old horse and the last time I rode him as he was aging right before he retired. I bought a younger horse and had both for a while. My older horse passed a few years ago. When there is dust either inside a barn or outside, I simply pay attention to air currents to try to stay upwind and hold my breath when I need to do that. I have asthma and don't want to inhale any of it. I do sometimes put on an N95, but it's usually too hot to wear one while doing physical work. I'm mostly outside grooming the horse and I don't have an inside arena. I kind of worry about that for the dust that gets kicked up and I don't want to breathe it. My horse is boarded and I don't have to do a lot of chores. Sometimes I have breathing issues due to asthma and I do have a respirator in my car in case I'm out anywhere and really can't breathe. I also have a can of oxygen and it really helps during those times my lungs are reactive and I am waiting for the inhaler to kick in. I have to be careful with hay and not breathe the dust. It can have mold in it, and my horse is pretty sensitive to that too. If he gets exposed to it, I have to give him antihistamines too. He's actually getting small square hay bales because they have a lot less mold and those large round spools of hay usually have a lot of mold in them because they are wound so tight. The farm recently had to get round spools because of supply issues, and my horse was coughing, so they just got the small bales for him and he's OK now. He's getting his own hay in a stall with pasture grazing part of the day. Sometimes while trail riding, you may go past a wet area that has a lot of mold spores. I will give my horse his antihistamine before we go out just in case and I have my inhaler with me. Horses are wonderful, aren't they? I'd love to hear about yours. How do you manage with dust avoidance?