Asthma & Household Cleaning Products
Text from www.WomenandEnvironment.org

Certain chemicals in common cleaning products have been associated with increased prevalence of asthma, exacerbations of asthma symptoms, and respiratory ailments.

Monoethanolamine (MEA), a surfactant found in some laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners and floor cleaners and is a known inducer of occupational asthma

Ammonium quaternary compounds, disinfectants found in some disinfectant sprays and toilet cleaners that have been identified as inducers of occupational asthma

Phthalates, carriers for fragrance in glass cleaners, deodorizers, laundry detergents and fabric softners, and are linked to increased allergic symptoms and asthma in children

Could these chemicals found in common cleaning products be exacerbating your asthma?

Asthma is a growing health condition in the United States, particularly among children

• Asthma is the most common serious chronic childhood disease, and is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization of children under age 15.
  

• A 2004 report from the National Center for Health Statistics states that the incidence of asthma among preschool-aged children rose by 160% between 1980 and 1994, [3] accounting for 14 million missed school days each year and $3.2 million in treatment expenses.[4]

• According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 9 million children (12.5% of children, or one out of 13) under 18 years of age in the United States have had asthma diagnosed at some time in their lives. (no reference in report either)

Cleaning product use has been shown to exacerbate or increase the incidence of asthma and respiratory problems in children

• A 2004 study in the United Kingdom published in the journal Thorax[5] found that frequent use of household products was associated with persistent wheezing among pre-school age children.

• Other recent studies have shown that exposure to household cleaning chemicals increases the likelihood of asthma among children.[6]

• Past studies have also shown that institutional cleaning chemicals used in schools have impacts on asthma and other respiratory problems in school age children.[7]

The incidence of occupational asthma in cleaning workers provides cause for concern for household cleaning products

While there is little research available on asthma in individuals caused by the cleaning products they use in their homes, research on the incidence of occupational asthma among cleaning workers clearly demonstrates a link with exposure to cleaning chemicals.

• A January 2001 study published by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine reported that janitorial workers have twice the rate of occupational asthma than other workers.[8]

• In New York, a study of urban minority asthma sufferers revealed that 61% of individuals working in janitorial jobs reported exacerbations of their asthma symptoms associated with their workplace.

• In Spain, several asthma studies of more than 4,000 women highlight the impacts of working in the domestic cleaning industry. One study found that women who did (or had done) domestic cleaning work had a much higher prevalence of asthma than women who had never done domestic cleaning work. Researchers concluded that 25% of asthma cases seen in study participants were linked to domestic cleaning work.[9]

We have safer, more effective cleaning products for your family and they are environmentally friendly. 

Jill

Moms Delivering Wellness

Tags: asthma, cleaning, household, health, safe, environment

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