Spray cleaners 'could cause asthma'
The report found that the use of spray cleaners, even once a week, could result in asthma
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Saturday, 13, Oct 2007 12:41
A report has found that the occasional use of spray cleaners could result in the development of asthma.
The research, which is published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that the use of household cleaning sprays and air fresheners, even once a week, could expose users to an increased risk of asthma.
The report's lead author Dr Jan-Paul Zock said: "Frequent use of household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma."
He added: "The relative risk rates of developing adult asthma in relation to exposure to cleaning products could account for as much as 15 per cent, or one in seven of adult asthma cases."
A total of 3,500 people in ten countries took part in the research in which they were tested for symptoms of current asthma, current wheeze and other ailments twice over an average period of nine years. They were also asked to tell researchers about the frequency with which they used cleaning products during the tests.
Researchers found that the people regularly exposed to cleaning sprays were between 30 and 50 per cent more likely to develop asthma. It said air fresheners, furniture cleaners and glass-cleaners, were particularly likely to cause risk.
Dr Zock added: "Our findings are consistent with occupational epidemiological studies in which increased asthma risk was related to professional use of sprays among both domestic and non-domestic cleaning women. This indicates a relevant contribution of spray use to the burden of asthma in adults who do the cleaning in their homes."
While the researchers did not describe the biological mechanism by which the effect occurred, they called for academics to build on their work.
In an editorial in the journal, Professor Kenneth Rosenman of Michigan State University stated: "Clinicians should be aware of the potential for cleaning products used in the home to cause respiratory symptoms and possibly asthma."