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Household aerosols: risk of asthma symptoms

The use of household aerosols seems to be linked to asthma symptoms, even in the absence of pre-existing asthma.

Asthma manifests itself with more or less reversible episodes of obstruction of the airways, associated with hyperactivity of the bronchial tubes. Various factors including drugs and a great many substances can trigger or aggravate an asthma attack. Eliminating the trigger is always desirable.

A study evaluating the impact of using of household products on the incidence of asthma attacks has been published. Over 3,500 Europeans unaffected by asthma were monitored for an average of 9 years. The use of household aerosols of any kind at least once a week was linked to the occurrence of asthma symptoms or to the taking of an asthma treatment. The strongest link was observed with window-cleaning products, furniture polish aerosols, and air fresheners. The more aerosols used, and the greater the frequency and the stronger the link. The use of household products in liquid or powder form has not been linked to respiratory symptoms.

In total, around 6% of the people monitored presented asthma symptoms. It is advisable to reduce the use of household aerosols, even in the absence of pre-existing asthma.

©Prescrire May 2009

Source: "Asthme : attention aux produits ménagers en "sprays"" Rev Prescrire 2009; 29 (305): 217.

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