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Cleaning Products Make Asthma Symptoms Worse

Irritating cleaning products such as bleach or ammonia can exacerbate symptoms in people with asthma.

Spring cleaning could make asthma symptoms worse, according to a new study. The scientists studied 21 women who worked for cleaning services in Barcelona, Spain. All of the women had had asthma symptoms in the past year.

Over the course of two weeks, they recorded all the cleaning products they used and how they were used. During those two weeks, they also kept track of symptoms.

Respiratory Symptoms from Cleaning Products

Seventeen of the women had runny noses, sneezing or scratchy throats, and 18 of them had wheezing, coughing or chest pain. The symptoms were worse after the women had used bleach, ammonia or hydrochloric acid, and the lung problems often lasted until the next day.

The researchers recommend that such irritating chemicals not be used in the home, where they are rarely necessary. They also suggest that commercial cleaning personnel should use protective gear to limit their exposure to volatile chemicals.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, online May 23, 2015 

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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