informed_green_solutions

Cleaning products and asthma risk: a potentially important public health concern

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Christina Davis) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 18:31:12 GMT

KEY POINTS

A linked cohort study notes an association between use of household cleaning products early in life and risk of childhood wheeze and asthma at age 3 years.
Accumulating evidence shows that household cleaning products increase the risk of asthma or wheeze across age groups.
Chemicals in household cleaning products are currently underregulated in North America.
Further research is required to examine the longer-term impacts of exposure to such products early in life on the developing airways of young children and any phenotypic variation in sequelae.

Prevalence of pediatric asthma in Canada is 13% and has increased over time.1 Asthma often begins early in childhood, and lifelong complications, including airway remodelling, can begin as early as the preschool years.2,3 As a result, focus on possible means of asthma prevention has increased. In linked research, Parks and colleagues describe an association between use of household cleaning products early in life and risk of childhood wheeze and asthma at age 3 years, using data from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Cohort Study.4 This longitudinal prospective birth cohort of 3455 participants notes that children had a higher odds of recurrent wheeze, recurrent wheeze with atopy and asthma diagnosis if living in homes with a higher frequency of use of cleaning products during their infancy. Several studies have identified household cleaning products to be associated with elevated risk of asthma or wheeze in adolescents, in adults and in association with occupational exposures,5 and the linked study adds to this by showing an association in young children. The study also contributes to a growing concern about the likely irritative effects of commonly used cleaning products on the respiratory system.

Asthma is increasingly understood to develop early in life and progress over time, with only a small window in early childhood during which preventive efforts may be beneficial, as airway remodelling can begin in the early toddler years with lifelong sequelae. For example, studies have noted evidence of airway remodelling, such as increased reticular basement membrane thickness and eosinophilic inflammation in endobronchial biopsies of toddlers (median age 29 months) with recurrent wheeze.3 Strikingly, long-term follow-up within the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP) study of 1041 children aged 5–12 years with mild to moderate asthma showed that 75% of these children had abnormal patterns of lung growth and 11% met criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in their twenties.2 Therefore, studies that identify avoidable factors to inform asthma prevention efforts are of paramount importance. The linked study points to small preventive changes that could be considered, especially among families of children at risk of asthma.4

Given the accumulating evidence,5 the American Lung Association recommends using only cleaning products that “don’t have volatile organic compounds, fragrances, irritants or flammable ingredients” and that air fresheners should be avoided altogether. 6 However, currently, manufacturers in Canada and the United States are not required to list all ingredients in consumer household cleaning products, and even products labelled as “environmentally friendly” or “green” may contain harmful substances, as such claims are largely unregulated.6 Changes in regulation are occurring in other jurisdictions, such as the European Union, where it is now required that labels on cleaning products must warn consumers about possible toxic ingredients within these products.7

Parks and colleagues4 note that some of the consumer products associated with highest risk were scented. Other studies have also found that particularly scented or air-refreshing products are associated with the highest respiratory risk. For example, follow-up within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey of 3503 adults doing cleaning in their homes who were free of asthma at baseline noted that the use of cleaning sprays at least once a week was associated with incidence of asthma symptoms or use of asthma medications (relative risk [RR] 1.49, 95% CI 1.12–199), with one of the highest risk products being air-refreshing sprays (RR current asthma 1.71, 95% CI 1.22–2.39).8 In this large observational study, about 1 in 7 cases of adult asthma could be attributed to use of common sprays. As such, removal of scented products from the homes of families of children at risk of asthma, or with current asthma symptoms, is likely wise.

It is well known that early childhood wheeze may not predict long-term asthma. Although atopy is the strongest risk factor for persistence of asthma in childhood and the linked study showed increased rates of atopic wheeze at age 3 years for children from homes with high use of cleaning products, most children outgrow asthma symptoms by school age.9 Studies looking at longer-term outcomes including into school age are required to accurately predict the long-term and chronic burden that such airway irritants may pose to the developing airways of young children.

Another remaining question is whether cleaning products predispose individuals to, or worsen, a specific asthma phenotype. There are different asthma phenotypes and the effects of such agents appear to be irritant. It may be that there is a subtype of irritant asthma that is largely preventable, which means — as cleaning products are ubiquitous — that a widespread public health education campaign may be required to bolster prevention.10

The linked research requires replication in other pediatric cohort studies. For this purpose, a singular, validated measure of indoor pollution from cleaning products would be beneficial. Furthermore, the study points to a larger issue within the field, which is the identification of early life exposures that may modify the risk of childhood asthma. In the meantime, this study supports a growing call to action on the role of cleaning products in irritating the airways of young children.

Visit https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/7/E164 for more information.

Association of use of cleaning products with respiratory health in a Canadian birth cohort

chrissy@northeastkingdomonline.com (Christina Davis) — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 18:21:02 GMT

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive longitudinal studies are important for understanding the complex risk factors, pathways, exposures and interactions that lead to the development and persistence of asthma. We aimed to examine associations between use of household cleaning products in early life and childhood respiratory and allergic disease using data from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Cohort Study.

METHODS: We summed responses from parental questionnaires that indicated the frequency of use of 26 household cleaning products in the homes of 2022 children from this birth cohort when they were 3–4 months of age to create a cumulative Frequency of Use Score (FUS). We used multivariable logistic regression models to assess whether frequent compared with less frequent use was associated with recurrent wheeze, atopy or asthma diagnosis, as defined by the questionnaire and clinical assessments at age 3 years. Data were collected between 2008 and 2015.

RESULTS: Children in homes with a higher frequency of use of cleaning products in infancy, as determined by an interquartile range increase, had higher odds of recurrent wheeze (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.64), recurrent wheeze with atopy (adjusted OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.02–2.16) and asthma diagnosis (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.09–1.70), but no increase in the odds of atopy at age 3 years (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.96–1.35). Compared with the lowest tertile of FUS exposure, infants in the highest tertile had higher odds of acquiring asthma. Stratification of the results showed that females had higher ORs than males for all outcomes, although the p values for this sex difference did not reach statistical significance.

INTERPRETATION: Frequent use of household cleaning products in early life was associated with an increased risk for childhood wheeze and asthma but not atopy at age 3 years. Our findings add to the understanding of how early life exposures to cleaning products may be associated with the development of allergic airway disease and help to identify household behaviours as a potential area for intervention.

See related article at www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.200025

The prevalence of childhood asthma has steadily increased over the past several decades and is now a leading cause of childhood chronic disease and admissions to hospital in developed countries, making it a priority for clinicians, researchers and the public.1 The first months of life are critical for the development of the immune and respiratory systems. 2 By identifying hazardous exposures and behaviours during infancy, preventive measures could be implemented to potentially reduce childhood asthma and allergy risk.

Most of the evidence that chronic low-level exposure to the irritants in cleaning products causes chronic inflammation, triggers asthma symptoms and worsens asthma control3 comes from domestic and occupational studies in adult populations.4–7 Young children, who spend 80%–90% of their time indoors in early life,8,9 are especially vulnerable because of their increased respiration rate and proximity to the ground, which increases gaseous and dermal exposures. Analyzing the effects of exposures to cleaning products is complex and challenging. Many approaches for the estimation of indoor pollution can be found in the existing literature.10 These include odour recognition, physical presence, questionnaires and composite scoring,6,11–14 ambient air measures of volatile organic compounds8,11,15 or a combination of assessments.16

We aimed to examine the association between the frequency of use of cleaning products in early infancy (3–4 months of age) and childhood asthma or its precursors at 3 years of age, using data from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Cohort Study.17

Visit https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/7/E154 for more information.

Some Plastics Can Poison Children

Wed, 20 May 2020 18:58:09 GMT

Study Finds Toys Made of Black Recycled Plastics Pose Serious Threat to Children’s Health

PRESS RELEASE

(Gothenburg, Sweden) : A ground-breaking study analyzing the effects of toxic chemicals in plastic children’s toys and consumer products on human cells demonstrates that toys made from some recycled plastics are toxic to humans and can significantly contribute to the dioxin daily intake level for children who mouth their toys. The levels of toxic chemicals revealed in all the samples studied were comparable to levels found in hazardous wastes, such as the ash from waste incinerators.

A team of researchers from Arnika, BioDetection Systems , and International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) determined that toys made of black plastic, which is often derived from recycled e-waste plastics with flame retardant chemicals, are toxic to human cells. The study reveals that children mouthing toys made from this plastic are at risk of dangerous health effects from the toxic material. It is the first study to establish the toxic effects of plastic toys made of recycled plastics on human cells.

Researchers analyzed toys, and toy components, made from black plastic purchased in Argentina, Germany, the Czech Republic, India, Nigeria, and Portugal. Black plastic often originates from highly toxic e-waste plastics containing toxic brominated flame-retardant chemicals. The researchers found perilously high levels of flame retardants and dioxin in the sampled toys, in concentrations comparable to hazardous waste.

The researchers then examined how the sampled plastics impact living human cells in the laboratory to determine the toxicity of the samples to humans. They identified high dioxin activity in the cell samples and concluded that teething and mouthing similar toys would significantly raise children’s daily dioxin exposure. The peer-reviewed article, lead author Clémence Budin, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and BioDetection Systems, will be published in the July issue of Chemosphere (Volume 251, July 2020, 126579).

Dioxins are considered some of the world’s most toxic chemicals and are extremely harmful even in minimal amounts. Levels of concern for dioxin substances, which begin at a few tenths of a picogram per gram, reached thousands of picograms per gram in some of the samples examined. Brominated dioxins are highly hazardous chemicals known to affect brain development, damage the immune system, increase the risk of cancer, and risk disruption of thyroid function. They are formed unintentionally during the production of brominated flame retardants. When plastics with brominated flame retardants are recycled and heated to be re-formed into new plastic products, additional brominated and chlorinated dioxins are formed. While they are not globally banned, brominated dioxins are recognized by the World Health Organization to be as toxic as closely related chlorinated dioxins. Experts advocate for stricter regulation of brominated dioxins.

The dire findings are concerning for children's health globally and spotlight a dangerous flaw in the circular economy model which seeks to reduce plastic waste through increased plastic recycling. Current recycling systems allow plastics with flame retardant chemicals and dioxins to be put into the recycling stream, resulting in dangerously contaminated products made of recycled plastics, such as the sampled toys in this study.

Noted health expert Dr. R. Thomas Zoeller, Ph.D., Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who is unaffiliated with the study, points to the seriousness of cancer-causing chemicals found in the toys sampled. “We are surrounded by plastics, especially in toys, and the chemicals used to make plastic are not always known, especially if the plastic is recycled. This is a very important study that not only did the hard work of chemical analysis, but also used a new type of analysis that would help us determine the overall toxicity of the plastic. What they found is that black plastic contains sometimes high levels of cancer-causing chemicals. No parent wants to expose their child to toxics.”

Researchers call for immediate action to change the global recycling systems to prevent hazardous chemical content from entering the recycling chain.

"Our methodologies using state-of-the-art human and mammalian cells, as well as chemical analyses to assess the toxic impacts of the plastics in this study, advance scientific knowledge about how toxic chemicals in plastics can impact human health. These findings indicate that in many consumer products manufactured with recycled black plastic containing brominated flame retardants (such as PBDEs), highly toxic brominated dioxin-like compounds are to be expected and should urgently be monitored and prevented,” said Dr. Peter A. Behnisch, Director of BioDetection Services, the Amsterdam based laboratory that conducted the analysis.

Chemical experts say that the study deepens concerns about the safety of recycled plastics and call on plastic producers and regulators to keep toxic plastics out of recycling. Jindrich Petrlik, Executive Director of Arnika, IPEN Advisor, and lead scientist for the project said, “This study demonstrates that our current system is allowing hazardous materials to be molded into toys. Stricter controls to keeps POPs out of consumer goods are a moral imperative. We must stop the flow of e-waste, and plastics with flame retardants, into recycling and set sufficiently strict limits for POPs in waste. Otherwise, we are looking at a toxic circular economy.”

Leslie Adogame, Executive Director at Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), whose organization was involved in the initial product sampling, stressed that toxic products are not the only toxic chemical exposure risk in Africa where high levels of dioxins have been associated with e-waste and incineration. “Hazardous exposures to brominated flame retardants and dioxin are multiplied in many communities in Africa, where the world dumps its e-waste and increasingly its plastic waste, and where weak standards mean toxic products and dirty recycling. We must strengthen the global controls on e-waste and POPs in recycled waste to protect the health of children in Africa and across the globe. Toxic chemicals in electronic waste should not be present in any consumer product—especially not in children's toys. The answer is global policy to end toxic recycling."

Parents can reduce their children’s exposure to toxic chemicals as a stop-gap measure by avoiding toys made with black plastic. While black plastic is most likely to be made from e-waste plastics, other colored plastics can contain toxic chemicals as well.

Editors: Report authors and experts are available for zoom interviews. Please contact Laura Vyda (lauravyda@ipen.org, cell or WhatsApp+1 510-387-1739) to arrange interviews with the researchers or for any additional information.

IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network), the global environmental network of nearly 600 public interest NGOs in over 125 countries, working to eliminate and reduce the most hazardous substances to forge a toxics-free future for all. ipen.org

Arnika is a Czech non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting nature and a healthy environment for future generations at home and abroad, and is the IPEN Regional Hub for Central and Eastern Europe. arnika.org

BioDetection Systems (BDS) is an Amsterdam laboratory providing bio-based screening technologies for safety, quality, and bioactivity assessment. BDS is highly experienced in the sensitive detection of key organic pollutants such as dioxin(-like) compounds, endocrine disrupting chemicals (such as plastic additives), and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Bds.nl

Images of Products

Expert Interviews

SOURCE: https://ipen.org/news/some-plastics-can-poison-children

IPM Training for Child Care Providers in 10 Modules

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Trainings

Webinars

On the Healthy Child Care Webinars page , you can view:

Creating Healthy Indoor Environments in Child Care Settings
Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education
Integrated Pest Management in Child Care Centers: Protecting Our Children From Pests and Pesticides
Small Steps to Improve Children's Environmental Health in Your Early Childhood Program: Common Practices to Keep Your Kids Safer
Lead
Protecting Children's Environmental Health Child Care Settings

Resources

Checklists and Tools

Other Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics, Healthy Child Care America
Child Care Aware of America
Children's Environmental Health Network - Eco-Healthy Child Care
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association for Family Child Care
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
New York State - Department of Health - Lead Poisoning Prevention Curriculum for Preschool Children and their Parents
Pedipress - Asthma Education for Childcare and Preschool Staff
Respiratory Health Association - Asthma-friendly Child Care Training
U.C. San Francisco - California Childcare Health Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care and Office of Head Start/Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center

Secret Scents

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

How Hidden Fragrance Allergens Harm Public Health

Fragrance affects us all. For some, it can enhance a moment, invoke a memory, or even improve a mood. As consumers, we seek it out in all kinds of products we use in our everyday lives. And for many of us, there’s a positive sensory experience associated with fragrance. But unfortunately, this may not be without consequence. In addition to the potential health consequences of certain fragrance ingredients linked to cancer, interference with hormones, and reproductive harm, a significant portion of the population suffers from fragrance-related allergies.

Almost 20% of the general population is sensitized to at least one allergen, and studies find that fragrance is one of the most frequently identified substances causing allergic reactions. Fragrance allergy affects 2 to 11 percent of the general population. This translates to tens of millions of people globally affected by fragrance. Women are disproportionately impacted by fragrance allergies, and the rates in children have been rising dramatically in the last few decades.

Click here to read full article: https://www.womensvoices.org/fragrance-ingredients/secret-scents/

Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Take action to improve children's health! EPA's comprehensive schools website offers all the resources you need to establish, maintain, or enhance a school environmental health program.

Click here to view all resources.

Safer Products and Practices for Disinfecting Surfaces

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

This SF Environment report provides a wide-ranging alternatives analysis of disinfectant products, including information on environmental and health hazards, surface compatibility, effectiveness for various microbes, best practices, and recommended products.

Click here to view report.

Rest Mats for Child Care Free of Vinyl and Flame Retardants

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

These rest mats are designed with cleanliness in mind, with a comfortable brown textured top, and rugged green underside. The four-section fold also keeps sleeping surfaces face to face and clean during storage.

Key Features:

Vinyl Free. Free of PVC, chlorinated TRIS, fire retardants, or any other chemicals we believe could be unsafe for children.
Comfortable and waterproof. Soft, 1" thick foam padding covered by polyester fabric with a thin urethane coating. Heat-sealed seams keep moisture out.
Clean Storage. Green and tan sides help you remember which side is clean. The four-section fold helps you keep the clean side clean, even during storage.

Click here to learn more: https://www.communityplaythings.com/products/sleep-and-hygiene/M65-Rest-Mat

America's Children and the Environment (ACE)

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ACE presents key information on children’s environmental health.

America's Children and the Environment (ACE) is EPA's report presenting data on children's environmental health. ACE brings together information from a variety of sources to provide national indicators and related information on the environment and children's health.

Click here to read full article: https://www.epa.gov/ace

Managing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Early Childhood Education Facilities

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) has released a timely, commissioned report on “ Managing Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Early Childhood Education Facilities .”

As parents and communities throughout the country discover high levels of lead present in their drinking water, this report provides specific criteria and guidelines for schools and early childhood education (ECE) facilities to remediate lead levels.

Lead is recognized as the single most significant environmental health threat to America’s children. Its toxicity in relatively small doses is associated with learning disabilities, poor attention spans and lowered IQ scores. Furthermore, children of color and children living in low-income communities bear a disproportionately high burden of lead exposures and lead toxicity.

Click here to read full article:
https://www.wkkf.org/news-and-media/article/2016/02/managing-lead-in-drinking-water-at-schools-and-e...

Pesticide Exposure Linked to Childhood Cancer and Lower IQ

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Pesticide use in homes may increase the risk of children developing leukemia or lymphoma, a new report suggests.

Researchers combined data from 16 earlier studies that had compared pesticide exposure between children who developed leukemia or lymphoma and those who did not. These studies estimated the level of insecticides and herbicides both inside the home and in the yard and outdoor residential space.

Click here to read the full article: https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/14/health/pesticide-exposure-childhood-cancer/index.html

A Story of Health

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Power of Personal Stories

Case-based learning has long been used in medical education. Our eBook grounds the science of health in stories of fictional people, their families, and communities to enable readers to explore the risk factors for disease as well as how to prevent disease and promote health and resilience. Using the setting of a family reunion as a backdrop, we explore how multiple environments influence our health across the lifespan.

Click here to read full article:
https://wspehsu.ucsf.edu/main-resources/for-clinical-professionals/training/a-story-of-health-a-mult...

Chemicals Found in Everyday Cleaning Products Linked to Increased Cancer Risk

Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%.

Click here to read full article:
https://academic.oup.com/carcin/article/36/Suppl_1/S254/316933?sid=db47f5ec-47a2-4879-bf30-6da9c076003d#sec-34

THE DIRTY TRUTH

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

How Toxic Cleaning Products Are Putting Canadians At Risk

Did you know that popular cleaning products are adding to indoor air pollution in Canadian homes?

In a first-of-its-kind study, Environmental Defence tested the impact of cleaning products on indoor air quality. In all 14 studied households, levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) went up during cleaning. VOCs are a group of chemicals that have been linked to serious health problems like asthma and can impact fetal development.

The problem: Lack of clear labelling rules means that consumers don’t know what’s in the cleaning products they buy. At the same time, promised federal regulations for VOC concentration limits in consumer products have been delayed for undisclosed reasons. We need government and industry to clean up their act and make cleaning products safer.

Click here to read full article:

http://environmentaldefence.ca/report/the-dirty-truth-how-toxic-cleaning-products-are-putting-canadi...

Little Things Matter: The Impact of Toxins on the Developing Brain

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Occupational Lung Disease Bulletin

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 00:00:00 GMT

View PDF

Click here to read the Occupational Lung Disease Bulletin

Indoor Air Chemistry: Cleaning Agents, Ozone and Toxic Air Contaminants 2006

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The “research focused ontwo common classes of ingredients in cleaning products and air fresheners: ethylene-based glycol ethers, whichare classified as toxic air contaminants, and terpenes, which react rapidly with ozone.” The researchers measuredexposures from several different scenarios and found:

•Users of products with high levels of ethylene-based glycol ethers or terpenes should make sure the areasbeing cleaned are properly ventilated during and after cleaning.

•Some products should be used in a dilution rather than full strength.

•Cleaning supplies should be promptly removed from occupied spaces.

•Using ozone generators or ionizing air cleaners should be avoided, especially where cleaning productsthat contain terpenes or air fresheners are used.W. Nazaroff, et al.,

“Indoor Air Chemistry: Cleaning Agents, Ozone and Toxic Air Contaminants”, AirResources Board Contract No. 01-336, Berkeley, Calif.: University of California, Berkeley, (April 2006.)L. Greensfelder, “Study Warns of Cleaning Product Risks,” University of California, Berkeley, press release,(April 2006.)

American Journal of Industrial Medicine 2007

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

2,995 cases of work related asthma from four states were examined. Teachers or teacher’s aids made up 54 % of the cases. “Conclusions - Asthma within the educational services industry is an occupational health problem. The health of school employees should also be considered when initiatives addressing asthma among schoolchildren are instituted. The identification, elimi nation, and/or control of respiratory hazards are important factors for the protection of staff and students alike.” J. M. Mazurek, MD, MS, M. Filios, SM, RN, R. Willis, MS, K.D. Rosenman, MD, M.J. Reilly, MS, K. McGreevy, PhD, D. P. Schill, MS, CIH, D. Valiante, MS, CIH, E. Pechter, MPH, CIH, L. Davis, ScD, J. Flattery, MPH, and R. Harrison, MD, MPH, “Work-Related Asthma in the Educational Services Industry: California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey 1993–2000,”

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

(2007.)

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2007

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

“The use of cleaning sprays at least weekly was associated with the incidence of asthma sympt oms or medication and wheeze. The incidence of physician- diagnosed asthma was higher among those using sprays at least 4 days per week. Risks were predominantly found for the commonly used glass-cleaning, furniture, and air-refreshing sprays.” A similar correlation was not found with products not applied in spray form. J. Zock, et al., “The Use of Household Cleaning Sprays and Adult Asthma”,

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Vol 176 (2007) 735-741

European Respiratory Journal 2008

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

“Increased use of domestic chemical based products was associated with persistent wheezing during early childhood. These findings suggest that frequent use of chemical based products in the prenatal period is associated with persistent wheezing in young children.”J. Henderson, A. Sherriff, A. Farrow, and J. G. Ayres,

“ Household chemicals, persistent wheezing and lung function: effect modification by atopy?” European Respiratory Journal, 31(3), (2008): 547 - 554.

Environmental Working Group 2009

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Cleaning supplies us ed in 13 large California scho ol districts release an airborne brew of 457 chemicals, including a number that have been linked to asthma or cancer by state and federal health authorities. Tests of 21 cleaners from these schools conducted for the Environmental Working Group found that when used as directed, the products released 6 chemicals known to cause asthma, 11 contaminants that are known, probable, or possible cancer-causing substances in humans, and hundreds of other compounds for which there is little or no hazard information. R. Sutton. Greener School Cleaning Supplies = Fresh Air + Healthier Kids

New Research Links School Air Quality to School Cleaning Supplies. Environment al Working Group, (November 2009.)

Environmental Health 2010

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Women who regularly use household cleaners and air fresheners are at double the risk of developing breast cancer than those who never use the products. The study of more than 1,500 women found that solid slow-release air fresheners and anti-mold products had the biggest effect. “The antimicrobials, phthalates and alkylphenolic surfactants often found in mold and mildew products are associated with various health and environmental issues. The antimicrobial triclosan for example, can cause skin irritation, allergy susceptibility, bacterial and compounded antibiotic resistance, and dioxin that jeopardizes fragile aquatic ecosystems. The study highlights methylene chloride (in some fabric cleaners), nitrobenzene (soaps, polishes), perfluorinated compounds (stain resistant, waterproof coatings), phthalates (surfactants), alkylphenols (solvents), parabens (preservatives), triclosan, and polycyclic musks (fragrance) as ingredients of concern.” A.R. Zota, A. Aschengrau, R.A. Rudel, and J.G. Brody. “Self-reported chemicals exposure, beliefs about disease causation, and risk of breast cancer in the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study: a case- control study.”

Environmental Health,

(2010): 9:40.

Environmental Health Perspectives 2010

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Pre-natal exposure to phthalates found in pesticides, scented products and personal care products is associated with a greater risk the child will develop disruptive behavior disorders. Children whose mothers had higher levels of a certain type of phthalates in their blood during the third trimester of pregnancy had a higher risk of developing conduct, aggression and attention deficits in later childhood. Some of the effects of these chemicals appeared to be greater in boys than girls – especially aggression, attention problems and hyperactivity. S.M. Engel, A. Miodovnik, R.L. Canfield, C. Zhu, M.J. Silva, A.M. Calafat and M.S. Wolff. “Prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with childhood behavior and executive functioning.”

Environmental Health Perspectives,

(2010): 118:4.

Microbiology 2010

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA and pseudomonas aeruginosa are becoming more prevalent. When a disinfectant containing benzalkonium chloride was applied to lab cultures of pseudomonas aeruginosa, the microbe adapted to survive not only the disinfectant but also a common antibiotic. "In principle this means that residue from incorrectly diluted disinfectants left on hospital surfaces could promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said lead researcher Gerard Fleming of the National University of Ireland in Galway. "What is more worrying is that bacteria seem to be able to adapt to resist antibiotics without even being exposed to them." P.H. Mc Cay, A.A. Ocampo-Sosa, and G.T.A. Fleming, “Effect of subinhibitory concentrat ions of benzalkonium chloride on the competitiveness of

Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in continuous culture.”

Microbiology (2010): 156: 30-38.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2010

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

“In a survey of mothers of children with birth defects, those who were janitors or scientists were more likely to have children with certain conditions, Michele Herdt-Losavio,PhD, of the New York State Department of Health, and colleagues reported online in Occupational &Environmental Medicine. They found that women working as janitors had a significantly increased risk of giving birth to a child with seven specific defects: ear, eye, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and oral clefts, among others, Herdt-Losavio said.These included amniotic bands, anotia/microtia, anorectal atresia, anophthalmia/microphthalmia, glaucoma, and bladder exstrophy. Janitorial occupations had previously been associated with neural tube defects, spina bifida, and oral clefts, the researchers said.”
M. L. Herdt-Losavio , S. Lin, B.R. Chapman, M. Hooiveld, A. Olshan, et al, “Maternal occupation and the risk of birth defects: an overview from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.”

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

(2010): 67:58-66.

15th Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society 2005

Fri, 01 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT

The authors presented the results of a study that linked household sprays and new onset asthma. 4,200 subjects who cleaned their own homes took part in the study, with 3,500 participants initially being asthma free. After nine years, the data showed that the incidence of asthma was greater in participants who used sprays more frequently. “Between 11 percent and 18 percent of new asthma cases can be attributed to frequent use of household aerosols.” The most hazardous of the sprays used were room, furniture, and window sprays. Using ammonia, bleach, or dye solvents was also found to put people at risk for developing asthma.

Jaakkola and Maritta, “Asthma and Housework: A Few Home Truths,” 15th Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society, Copenhagen, Sweden, 2005.

Environmental Health Perspectives 2005

Tue, 01 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

85 mothers and sons were tested for phthalates in their urine. The mothers with the highest levels of phthalates in their urine late in their pregnancies produced babies with genital abnormalities. This same effect has been seen in rats, but this is the first evidence that phthalates are causing a similar effect in humans. In rats, “phthalate syndrome” causes a decrease in testosterone levels, lower sperm counts, infertility, and testicular abnormalities in the mature animal.

H. Shanna, S. Swan, K. Main, F. Liu, et al., “Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure,” Environmental Health Perspectives 13, 8 (2005): 1056-1061.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2005

Tue, 01 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Asthma symptoms in domestic cleaning women are associated with exposure to bleach and possibly other irritant agents. The public health impact of using cleaning products that contain irritants could be widespread because the use of these products is common in the work place and at home.

M. Medina-Ramon, J.P. Zock, et al., “Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis, and Exposure to Irritant Agents in Occupational Domestic Cleaning: A Nested Case-Control Study,” Occupational and Environmental Medicine 62, 9 (September 2005): 598–606.

Thorax 2005

Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Prenatal exposure to the use of disinfectants, bleach, carpet cleaner, window cleaner, air fresheners, paints, dry cleaning fluid, aerosols, and pesticides increased the risk that the young child would have persistent wheezing. Scientists determined that the more frequently the chemicals were used, the greater the risk of persistent wheezing, which can be a precursor to asthma.

A. Sherriff, A. Farrow, J. Golding, and J. Henderson, “Frequent Use of Chemical Household Products Is Associated with Persistent Wheezing in Pre-School,” Thorax 60 (2005): 45–49.

Environmental Health Perspectives 2004

Tue, 02 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Children exposed to phthalates had a higher incidence of being diagnosed with asthma, rhinitis, or eczema. Phthalates were measured in house dust from bedrooms and a dose-response relationship was confirmed. Phthalates are found in PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or VCT (vinyl composite tile) flooring, plastics, adhesives and many other products. Dust from bedrooms with PVC or VCT flooring was more likely to have higher concentrations of phthalates.

CG Bornehag et al. “The Association Between Asthma and Allergic Symptoms in Children and Phthalates inHouse Dust: A Nested Case-Control Study,” Environmental Health Perspectives (2004): 112:1393-1397

Thorax 2004

Tue, 02 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Children living in homes with higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) showed a marked increase in their risk of asthma. VOCs are emitted by cleaning products, air fresheners, and building products.

K. Rumchev, “Association of Domestic Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds with Asthma in Young Children,” Thorax 59, 9 (2004): 746–51.

Atmospheric Environment 2004

Mon, 01 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Toxic air contaminants emitted by cleaning products and air fresheners are found to combine with other indoor air components to form secondary pollutants.

W.W. Nazaroff and C. J. Weschler, “Cleaning products and air fresheners: exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants,” Atmospheric Environment Volume 38, Issue 18, (June 2004): 2841-2865

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2003

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 00:00:00 GMT

A study of confirmed cases of work-related asthma in four states found that 12 percent were associated with exposure to cleaning chemicals. Of these, 80 percent were new onset cases and 20 percent were work-aggravated cases.

K. Rosenman, M. Reilly, and D. Schill, “Cleaning Products and Work-Related Asthma,” Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine 45, 3 (2003): 556–63.

Thorax 2003

Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT

Asthma was found to be more prevalent in women previously or currently employed as domestic cleaners as compared to women who had never worked in the cleaning industry. Domestic cleaning work may have a serious public health impact that affects professional cleaners and people cleaning their own homes.

M. Medina-Ramon, et al., “Asthma Symptoms in Women Employed in Domestic Cleaning,” Thorax 58(2003): 950–54.

European Respiratory Journal 2000

Sat, 01 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

Acute short-term exposure to common cleaning chemicals was found to cause a severe asthmatic attack and adult respiratory distress syndrome in an asthmatic subject.

C. Mapp, V. Pozzato, V. Pavoni, and G. Gritti, “Case Study: Severe Asthma and ARDS Triggered by Acute Short-Term Exposure to Commonly Used Cleaning Detergents,” European Respiratory Journal 16, 3 (2000):570.

Eighth International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate 1999

Mon, 01 Feb 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Floor cleaning products were found to be a cause of occupational asthma.

M. Mendell and G. Heath, “Do Indoor Environments in Schools Influence Student Performance? A Review of the Literature,” Eighth International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, Edinburgh, Scotland,1999.

New Scientist 1999

Fri, 01 Jan 1999 00:00:00 GMT

Frequent use of air fresheners and aerosol sprays in the home contributed to 25 percent more headaches and 19 percent more incidence of depression in mothers and 30 percent more ear infections and 22 percent greater incidence of diarrhea in infants less than six months of age.

R. Edwards, “Far from Fragrant: Disguising Nasty Smells Could Damage Your Health,” New Scientist 4(Sept. 1999): 17.

Clinical and Experimental Allergy 1997

Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT

Asthma prevalence in schools has been associated with higher relative air humidity, higher concentrations of volatile organic compounds, and mold or bacteria.

G. Smedje, D. Norback, and C. Edling C., “Asthma among Secondary Schoolchildren in Relation to the School Environment,” Clinical and Experimental Allergy 27, 11 (1997): 1270–78.

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 1984

Mon, 02 Jan 1984 00:00:00 GMT

Musk Ambrette, a commonly used fragrance ingredient, has been found to cause serious brain damage in laboratory animals.

P.S. Spencer, M.C. Bischoff-Fenton, O.M. Moreno, D.L. Opdyke, and R.A. Ford, “Neurotoxic properties of musk ambrette,” Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 75 (1984): 571–75.