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Babies often exposed to cleaning products at higher risk of asthma

By on February 19, 2020

Flu proofing homes using disinfectants might seem like a good hygiene practice especially when you have babies. But a new study finds young children frequently exposed to  cleaning products are highly likely to develop asthma by the age of 3.

“Our study looked at infants, who typically spend 80-90 per cent of their time indoors, and are especially vulnerable to chemical exposures through the lungs and skin due to their higher respiration rates and regular contact with household surfaces,” says Tim Takaro, the study’s lead author from Simon Fraser University in Canada.

Products singled out by Takaro include air fresheners, deodorizers, dusting sprays, hand sanitizers, and oven cleaners. Parents were given a questionnaire asking them which kinds of products they use and how often. The study found more issues associated with scented air fresheners and other aerosols.

The study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), was made on a  group of 2,022 Canadian children between the age of three and four months.

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