Cleaning products may cause asthma

Exposure to fumes emitted by cleaning products at home could cause asthma in children. A recent study found that children exposed to higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were four times more likely to suffer from asthma than children who were not. VOCs are found in solvents, paints, floor adhesives, cleaning products, polishes, room fresheners and fitted carpets.

Researchers from the School of Public Health at Curtin University of Technology in Australia, studied 88 children who were treated for asthma at the emergency department of the Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth. The study supported the hypothesis that exposure to indoor pollutants might be important in the genesis of asthma. VOC concentrations were higher in homes where people smoked indoors, as well as homes that had been recently painted or had new carpets. But the researchers did not have enough data to conclude for certain whether use of household products such as cleaning products, paints and hobby supplies were to blame.

An increased understanding of the factors that affect the indoor concentrations of VOCs is needed given that they are carcinogenic (cancer causing) and some may be significantly related to asthma.