Frequent use of aerosols and air fresheners in the home may make
babies and pregnant women ill. British researchers say they have found evidence that
chemicals in these products could be linked to headaches and depression in mothers,
and to ear infections and diarrhoea in babies.
Aerosols and air fresheners contain dozens of volatile organic compounds such as
xylene, ketones and aldehydes, which can be toxic in high doses. Britain is the
biggest producer and user of aerosols in europe, with the average british household
buying 36 aerosol spray cans a year, including deodorants, hair sprays and furniture
polish.
In a survey of 14 000 pregnant women, epidemiologists at the university of bristol
found that those who used aerosols and air fresheners most days suffered 25 per
cent more headaches than those who used them less than once a week. There was
also a 19 per cent increase in postnatal depression among women who frequently
used air fresheners.
The study, which was presented at an international conference on indoor air pollution
in edinburgh last month, found that babies under six months old who were exposed
on most days to air fresheners had 30 per cent more ear infections than those
exposed less than once a week. There was also a 22 per cent increase in diarrhoea
among babies frequently exposed to aerosols.
The study concludes that "caution should be advised" on the use of aerosols or air
fresheners more than once a week. "we have found a possible causal link and it
needs further investigation," says one of the authors, jean golding of bristol
university's division of child health.
The biological mechanisms by which the chemicals may make people more
susceptible to diseases still need to be worked out. However, experiments on mice
suggest that the chemicals in air fresheners may weaken the body's defences by
making the skin more permeable.
Golding's findings are supported by work done at the government's building
research establishment in watford. The bre discovered that the annual average
level of volatile organic compounds in 170 of the homes in the bristol study was
415 micrograms per cubic metre of air, some of which came from aerosols and air
fresheners.
Although this is below the level at which health effects would normally be expected,
jeff llewellyn of the bre points out that some people could be exposed to much
higher doses for short periods. The suggestion that this may cause headaches and
other symptoms is plausible, he says.
A study in the us, also reported at the edinburgh conference, claimed that mice
exposed to volatile organic compounds from a solid air freshener experienced
breathing difficulties. Rosalind anderson from anderson laboratories, a private
research facility in vermont, believes that humans could be similarly affected.
The british aerosol manufacturers' association said last week that it was not aware
of the bristol study. "however, bama is always interested in any research or
findings concerning the use of aerosols," added a spokeswoman, "and will look into
this matter."
