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Household Cleaners Linked to Asthma in Adults
Household Cleaners, Air Fresheners Linked to Asthma in Adults
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 by: David Gutierrez Source
Regular use of household cleaning sprays and air fresheners may increase the risk of
adult-onset asthma, according to a new study published in the American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Researchers analyzed data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey,
which collected epidemiological data at 22 centers in 10 countries. They followed this up
with face-to-face interviews of 3,503 people who did the cleaning in their home and were
free of asthma when the study began. Participants answered questions about the
frequency of their use of 15 kinds of cleaning products. The researchers then followed
up nine years later, using an interview to determine the participants' current asthma and
wheeze levels, and the occurrence of physician-diagnosed asthma and allergy.
Those who used cleaning sprays at least once per week were 50 percent more likely to
have increased asthma symptoms, wheeze, or asthma medication use in nine years than
those who used such products less frequently. Those who used sprays at least four
times per week were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with asthma by a
physician than those who used them less frequently. The strongest association was
found with air fresheners, glass cleaners and furniture-cleaning sprays.
The researchers found no association between the use of non-spray cleaners, such as
solvent stain removers and washing powders, and the incidence of asthma. There was
also no apparent asthma increase associated with infrequently used spray products,
such as oven cleaners.
The researchers concluded that exposure to cleaning products may be responsible for
as many as one in seven cases of adult-onset asthma.
In an accompanying editorial, Kenneth D. Rosenman of Michigan State University noted
that there is no legal requirement for companies to test products for the tendency to
produce certain categories of allergic reactions, including asthma.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 by: David Gutierrez Source
Regular use of household cleaning sprays and air fresheners may increase the risk of
adult-onset asthma, according to a new study published in the American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Researchers analyzed data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey,
which collected epidemiological data at 22 centers in 10 countries. They followed this up
with face-to-face interviews of 3,503 people who did the cleaning in their home and were
free of asthma when the study began. Participants answered questions about the
frequency of their use of 15 kinds of cleaning products. The researchers then followed
up nine years later, using an interview to determine the participants' current asthma and
wheeze levels, and the occurrence of physician-diagnosed asthma and allergy.
Those who used cleaning sprays at least once per week were 50 percent more likely to
have increased asthma symptoms, wheeze, or asthma medication use in nine years than
those who used such products less frequently. Those who used sprays at least four
times per week were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with asthma by a
physician than those who used them less frequently. The strongest association was
found with air fresheners, glass cleaners and furniture-cleaning sprays.
The researchers found no association between the use of non-spray cleaners, such as
solvent stain removers and washing powders, and the incidence of asthma. There was
also no apparent asthma increase associated with infrequently used spray products,
such as oven cleaners.
The researchers concluded that exposure to cleaning products may be responsible for
as many as one in seven cases of adult-onset asthma.
In an accompanying editorial, Kenneth D. Rosenman of Michigan State University noted
that there is no legal requirement for companies to test products for the tendency to
produce certain categories of allergic reactions, including asthma.