Air Fresheners and Asthma

Air fresheners and  scented candles used to "freshen air" can actually have an adverse affect on health, experts say.Allergists at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) reported that people with allergies may be more sensitive to these scents than they realize.They can "trigger allergy symptoms, aggravate existing allergies and worsen asthma," Stanley Fineman, M.D., president-elect of the ACAAI, said in a statement.Some of these "air freshening" products contain ingredients that can increase asthma risk among kids. High levels of these ingredients can irritate eyes and the respiratory tract as well as causing headaches and dizziness."Products marketed as 'all-natural' or even those that are unscented can emit hazardous chemicals," Fineman said in the statement. "The safest option is to avoid exposure to pollutants that air fresheners emit."MyHealthNewsDaily reported that a 2009 study shows that almost one third of people who have asthma also are hyper-sensitive to chemicals.read more about allergens found in the home here