Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants. During an asthma episode, tightening of the smooth muscles around the bronchial tubes causes them to become inflamed, narrow inside and produce excess mucous. This makes it difficult for air to pass in and out of the lungs and decreases the oxygen levels in the blood. A person suffering from an asthma attack has a sensation similar to drowning.

Some people are born with a predisposition toward developing asthma but over the past 20 years the number of children hospitalised with asthma has quadrupled and in the US every four minutes a child is taken to hospital with an asthmas attack.

However, what actually triggers the disease can vary from person to person. Common triggers include environmental tobacco smoke, mould, dust mites, air pollution, pollen, allergens from animals and insects and viral infections.

Indoor air pollution consists of toxic gases or particles that can damage your health. The pollutants can build up rapidly indoors to levels much higher than those usually found outdoors. Organic chemicals and formaldehyde which are found in aerosol sprays, cleaning products and air-fresheners, amongst other things, can have serious effects on health and in particular anyone with asthma.

On average, people spend about 90% of their time indoors and 65% of that is spent in the home. To make matters worse, those who are more susceptible to indoor air pollution are the ones who are at home the most: children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic illness.

A report on the BBC News website (Wednesday 25 August 2004) claimed that “parents striving to keep a spotless house may unwittingly be triggering asthma in their children”. It went on to say:

“Toddlers exposed to fumes from solvents and cleaning products at home are most at risk, Australian researchers found. Polishes, room fresheners and new carpets were some of the triggers identified by a Curtin University of Technology team, Thorax reported.

Children exposed to the highest levels of volatile organic compounds were four times more likely to have asthma.

The authors measured levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the homes of 88 toddlers with asthma and 104 without. Levels measured were lower than recommended maximums. VOCs are irritants and indoor sources include solvents, floor adhesives, paint, furnishings and cleaning products.”

“When the researchers looked at the individual types of VOCs, most appeared to be risk factors for asthma.

In particular benzene – which is used to make rubbers, dyes and detergents and is also a component of gasoline, which has been linked to cancers – almost tripled the risk of asthma for every 10 point increase in this compound.”

“Lead researcher Dr Krassi Rumchev said given that some VOCs have also been shown to cause cancer, it would be important to determine acceptable indoor levels and what factors increased levels.

“Domestic exposure to VOCs at levels below currently recommendations may increase the risk of childhood asthma” they said”

What is possibly even more worrying is a further report which was also published on the BBC News website (Thursday 23 December 2004) stated that “Exposure to cleaning products while in the womb could be linked to persistent wheezing in young children, University of Bristol research suggests… Wheezing can be a sign that a child will go on to develop asthma.”

Indoor air quality affects everyone and it often contains higher concentrations of hazardous pollutants than outdoor air – usually 2-5 times more, but occasionally more than 100 times higher! Over the past several decades, over exposure to indoor air pollutants is believed to have increased due to a variety of factors, including the construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings and the use of chemically formulated personal care products, pesticides and household cleaners.

The high incidence of indoor air pollution has brought the phrase Sick Building Syndrome into everyday use. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, sinus congestion, itchy or watery eyes, scratchy throat, nausea, lethargy and an inability to concentrate. Sick Building Syndrome can lead to respiratory infections and can aggravate symptoms associated with allergies and asthma.


What Can Be Done?

The good news is that everyone can reduce indoor air pollution.

Mould – mould grows on damp things such as shower curtains, bath items, tubs, basins and tiles.

·if you see mould, clean it up with soap and water and if necessary a very small amount of bleach;
·try and have windows open or an extractor fan in use when bathing or showering;
·dry damp and wet items as soon as possible.

Dust Mites – these are tiny bugs, invisible to the human eye. They live in sheets, pillows, blankets, mattresses, soft furniture, carpets and stuffed toys. The dropping of these mites are the most common trigger of perennial allergy and asthma symptoms.

·wash bedding weekly and dry out completely before putting back on the bed;
·use dust mire proof covers on pillows and mattresses;
·vacuum carpets, rugs and furniture often – or even better, replace carpets with wood, tile or linoleum;
·wash stuffed toys drying completely afterwards.

Second-hand Smoke – asthma can be triggered by the smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes and also the smoke breathed out by a smoker.

·do not smoke in your home or car;
·do not let others smoke near your children.



Insects – insect body parts and droppings may trigger an asthma attack.

·keep worktops, sinks, tables and floors clean;
·clean dishes, crumbs and spills;
·store food in air-tight containers;
·keep all rubbish covered.

Cats, dogs and others! – contrary to popular belief, people are not allergic to an animals hair, but rather to a protein found in the saliva, dander (dead skin flakes) or urine of animals with fur.

·keep pets outside if possible;
·if they are indoors, keep them out of the bedroom and off the furniture;
·vacuuming is not effective in decreasing animal allergens as it does not clean the lowers levels of the carpet. Using a HEPA vacuum cleaner may help but there is no conclusive evidence.

Chemical Irritants – chemicals irritants found in some cleaning and personal care products, such as scented and unscented products including cleaners, paint, adhesives, pesticides, cosmetics or air fresheners may make asthma worse.

·use these products less often and ensure your children are not around when you do use them;
·when using products, ensure all windows and doors are open and, if you have one, use an extractor fan.





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