Generally, aerosol products are toxic. Most aerosols release VOCs. VOCs can cause irritation, headaches, and damage to the central nervous system, the liver, and kidneys, and some have even been linked with an increased risk of cancer. Aerosols can contain other toxic compounds too.

Since aerosol cans are under pressure, they can explode if they're punctured or if they're depressurized incorrectly, according to Safety Management Group. Aerosol cans also often contain products that are damaging to the environment, such as insecticides, which can damage the environment without directly depleting the ozone layer.

Aerosols are fine particulates that float in the atmosphere. Many are natural, but those haven’t increased or decreased much over the centuries. But human-caused aerosols — emitted from smokestacks, car exhausts, wildfires, and even clothes dryers — have increased rapidly, largely in step with greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.

When they react with ozone gas in the air they can form dangerous pollutants including particulate matter and formaldehyde. When used indoors, high concentrations of VOCs can cause symptoms ranging from headaches and lung irritation, to nervous system damage and some types of cancer.