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Household Sprays Linked to Increased Risk of Developing Asthma

According to a new research study by the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology at the Municipal Institute of Medical Research in Barcelona, Spain, household cleaning sprays, air fresheners, glass cleaners, and furniture cleaners and sprays can increase the risk of developing asthma by 50 percent.

Although these sprays may simply trigger asthmatic symptoms, the researchers believe that household sprays can actually cause asthma since the individuals tested in the study did not have asthma or asthmatic symptoms prior to the study. At the end of the test, however, persons who had been otherwise healthy at the beginning of the study began showing signs of asthma and asthmatic symptoms.

Sprays, like smoke and other air pollutants, can stay airborne long enough for individuals to breath in the particles. Airborne particles of any kind, even cleaners, have the potential for triggering symptoms of respiratory disorders, allergies, and unexpected reactions from an individual’s immune system. According to this study, spray cleaners, designed to clean instead of pollute, can actually trigger reactions in the body that result in respiratory disorders.

According to the study, using household sprays such as cleaners and air fresheners just once a week can increase the risks of developing asthma. Jan-Paul Zock, the study’s lead fellow at the Center, cautions consumers about purchasing any kind of spray cleaners. Even ones at supermarkets and grocery stores can have serious health risks.

This means that individuals need to take precautions when purchasing and using spray cleaners and air fresheners and be aware that there are still health risks associated with these products. If an individual already suffers from asthma or other respiratory problems, he or she should take extra precautions when using sprays of any kind.