| Asthma risk `exacerbated by house air fresheners' THE INDEPENDENT AIR FRESHENERS, furniture polish and household cleaners may increase the risk of asthma in young children, a study has found. Those exposed to fumes from common domestic products were up to four times more likely to develop asthma than those who were not. Outdoor pollution from vehicle exhausts is known to exacerbate asthma in susceptible individuals but it seems that staying inside offers little respite. Researchers studied the levels of volatile organic compounds in the homes of 88 children with asthma and 104 without asthma who were treated in hospital at Perth, Western Australia. The compounds are found in paints, floor adhesives, cleaning products, polishes, room fresheners, fitted carpets and cigarette smoke. Levels can be five to 10 times higher indoors. The findings showed levels of the compounds were significantly higher in the homes of children with asthma. The highest risks were for benzene, a constituent of petrol, followed by ethylbenzene and toluene. The authors, from the school of public health at Curtin University of Technology in Perth say in the journal Thorax that asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and its rising prevalence over the past 30 years has been linked to "better" homes. Fitted carpets, soft furnishings, air conditioning and central heating are blamed for causing or exacerbating the condition. A great website for information on asthma is: www.epa.gov Check out the Asthma fact page…it is quite informative! |
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