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Clean houses 'may trigger asthma'
Copyright BBC News Service 2005
Parents striving to keep a spotless house may unwittingly be triggering asthma
in their children, a study says.
Toddlers exposed to fumes from solvents and
cleaning products at home are most at risk, Australian researchers found.
Polishes, room fresheners and new carpets were some of the triggers identified
by a Curtin University of Technology team, Thorax reported.
Children exposed to
the highest levels of volatile organic compounds were four times more likely to
have asthma. Indoor fumes The authors measured levels of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in the homes of 88 toddlers with asthma and 104 without.
Levels measured were lower than recommended maximums.
Domestic exposure to
levels below currently accepted recommendations may increase the risk of
childhood asthma. The study authors VOCs are irritants and indoor sources
include solvents, floor adhesives, paint, furnishings and cleaning products.
Levels were measured twice - once in the winter and again in the summer. The
children's parents were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire on their
child's health. The researchers also tested the children for allergies. When
the researchers looked at the individual types of VOCs, most appeared to be
risk factors for asthma.
Cancer link In particular, benzene - which is used to
make rubbers, dyes and detergents and is also a component of gasoline, which
has been linked to cancers - almost tripled the risk of asthma for every 10
unit increase of this compound. Another important risk factor for asthma was
allergy. Three-quarters of the children with asthma had an allergy, compared
with only half of the children without asthma.
Lead researcher Dr Krassi
Rumchev said given that some VOCs have also been shown to cause cancer, it
would be important to determine acceptable indoor levels and what factors
increase levels. "Domestic exposure to VOCs at levels below currently accepted
recommendations may increase the risk of childhood asthma," they said.
Measuring total VOCs might underestimate the risks associated with individual
compounds, they added.
Dr Matthew Hallsworth, from Asthma UK, said: "There has
already been a lot of debate about whether outdoor air pollution may increase
the risk of developing asthma. "This study reminds us that we should also
consider indoor air quality and how it may affect the health of our lungs."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-
/1/hi/health/3597404.stm
Published: 2004/08/25 23:14:05 GMT © BBC MMV
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