Understanding Your Cleaning Products
We know that a clean home or work environment can rescue asthma triggers, but how the rooms are cleaned is also an important aspect to consider. A report from The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that a compound used in mothballs, air fresheners, and toilet bowl cleaners can reduce lung function. This compound is called dichlorobenzene and it can affect the lungs of both smokers and non-smokers.
Dichlorobenzene’s Effect on Your Lung Health
While many cleaning product formulations are irritating at time-of-use, they do not continue to cause problems after they have dried. By contrast, products with dichlorobenzene are designed to continuously release active molecules into the air. To avoid problems, avoid the use of these products if household members have underlying lung problems such as asthma and COPD.