Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians

Exposure to fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, is associated with adverse health effects such as asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, and migraine headaches. This study investigated the prevalence and types of health problems associated with exposure to fr...

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Main Authors: Steinemann, A., Wheeler, A., Larcombe, Alexander
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69663
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author Steinemann, A.
Wheeler, A.
Larcombe, Alexander
author_facet Steinemann, A.
Wheeler, A.
Larcombe, Alexander
author_sort Steinemann, A.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Exposure to fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, is associated with adverse health effects such as asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, and migraine headaches. This study investigated the prevalence and types of health problems associated with exposure to fragranced products among asthmatic Australians. Nationally representative cross-sectional data were obtained in June 2016 with an online survey of adult Australians (n = 1098), of which 28.5% were medically diagnosed with asthma or an asthma-like condition. Nationally, 55.6% of asthmatics, and 23.9% of non-asthmatics, report adverse health effects after exposure to fragranced products. Specifically, 24.0% of asthmatics report an asthma attack. Moreover, 18.2% of asthmatics lost workdays or a job in the past year due to fragranced products in the workplace. Over 20% of asthmatics are unable to access public places and restrooms that use air fresheners. Exposure to fragranced products is associated with health problems, some potentially serious, in an estimated 2.2 million asthmatic adult Australians. Asthmatics were proportionately more affected than non-asthmatics (prevalence odds ratio 3.98; 95% confidence interval 3.01–5.24). Most asthmatics would prefer workplaces, healthcare facilities, and environments that are fragrance-free, which could help reduce adverse effects.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-696632018-10-11T06:47:38Z Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians Steinemann, A. Wheeler, A. Larcombe, Alexander Exposure to fragranced consumer products, such as air fresheners and cleaning supplies, is associated with adverse health effects such as asthma attacks, breathing difficulties, and migraine headaches. This study investigated the prevalence and types of health problems associated with exposure to fragranced products among asthmatic Australians. Nationally representative cross-sectional data were obtained in June 2016 with an online survey of adult Australians (n = 1098), of which 28.5% were medically diagnosed with asthma or an asthma-like condition. Nationally, 55.6% of asthmatics, and 23.9% of non-asthmatics, report adverse health effects after exposure to fragranced products. Specifically, 24.0% of asthmatics report an asthma attack. Moreover, 18.2% of asthmatics lost workdays or a job in the past year due to fragranced products in the workplace. Over 20% of asthmatics are unable to access public places and restrooms that use air fresheners. Exposure to fragranced products is associated with health problems, some potentially serious, in an estimated 2.2 million asthmatic adult Australians. Asthmatics were proportionately more affected than non-asthmatics (prevalence odds ratio 3.98; 95% confidence interval 3.01–5.24). Most asthmatics would prefer workplaces, healthcare facilities, and environments that are fragrance-free, which could help reduce adverse effects. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69663 10.1007/s11869-018-0560-x http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext
spellingShingle Steinemann, A.
Wheeler, A.
Larcombe, Alexander
Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
title Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
title_full Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
title_fullStr Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
title_full_unstemmed Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
title_short Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
title_sort fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic australians
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/69663