Asthma danger may hang in the air

Using aerosol sprays to mask bathroom odors, clean dusty furniture, and make mirrors glisten could jeopardize your respiratory health. Researchers have found that frequent use of such household cleaners may boost an adult's risk of developing asthma.

The scientists tracked about 3,500 European adults for almost a decade. Initially, none had asthma; 2.1 percent developed it during the study.

Those who used cleaning sprays every week had a 30 to 50 percent higher risk of developing symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath than those who didn't. People who used sprays most often were most likely to get asthma, says Jan-Paul Zock of the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona.

He and his colleagues reported their findings in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Zock urges aerosol users to take precautions: Open windows, avoid mists of chemicals and wear a mask.