Cleaning chemicals linked to child asthma

A STUDY that found a strong link between household chemicals and the huge rise in childhood asthma has been welcomed by the Irish Asthma Society.

Almost 30% of Irish children have asthma. Ireland ranks fourth in the world for having the highest prevalence of childhood asthma.

Asthma nurse specialist with the Irish Asthma Society Frances Guiney said: "It's vital that there is more research into the causes of asthma because the incidence of the disease is rising by 0.5% every year here."

A study of more than 7,000 children in Britain shows children are born into households where chemicals like bleach, disinfectant and cleaning fluid are used frequently. While the researchers are not claiming that these chemicals cause asthma, there is a strong link.

The results also back up an Australian study published last August.

The new data comes from Bristol University's Children of the '90s project that has been following a group of children born in the 1990s.

"We are seeing what appears to be effects on lung function, either while the baby is still in the womb or after birth," said Dr Andrea Sherriff of Bristol University.

"We cannot say exactly what chemicals are involved but our results are validated. We know the participants in the study well and can rely on the information they give us," she said.

Another possible explanation is that cleanliness itself can cause asthma. This theory suggests the immune system of children raised in over-clean environments do not develop properly.

Professor Andrew Peacock of the British Thoracic Society said more long-term studies were needed before they could advise pregnant women to throw out their air fresheners and reduce the use of household products.

Ms Guiney said the new study was welcome but agreed with Professor Peacock that more long-term studies were needed so they could better advise people what to do. "Definitely, household products can irritate the lining of airways and provoke asthma attacks," she said.

Ms Guiney is also concerned that people overuse household products and mix them, causing dangerous gases to be released.

"While they are not the cause, they can certainly make the airways more irritable," she said.

Ventilation was also crucial in reducing the incidence of childhood wheezing. "You won't need air fresheners if the house is well-ventilated," she said.

She urged people to swap household chemicals for water and damp cloths. And, she said, liquid substances were preferable to aerosols. Ms Guiney also believes that the immune system of children was not being challenged properly.

"They are so protected; there is so much use of antibiotics and their houses are so sterile. Almost everyone has double glazed windows and a lot of us have wall to wall carpets."

Poor diet was also to blame for the asthma rise. "Well exercised children who get a lot of fresh air are far less likely to develop asthma," she said.

*More information and advise on asthma is available at www.asthmasociety.ie or by phoning 1850 44 54 64 (office hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) from Tuesday, January 4, next.

Household dangers

Household products blamed for the surge in childhood asthma:

Disinfectant

Bleach

Aerosols

Air freshener

Window cleaner

Carpet cleaner

Paint and varnish

White spirit

Pesticide

Paint stripper

Dry-cleaning fluid.