Construction materials, paints, cleansers, plastics, toys, cosmetics, and packaging are all filled with chemicals that are causing allergies.
According to a new study at Karlstad University in Sweden, the prevalence of propylene glycol and glycol ethers (PGEs), in bedroom air is associated with asthma, hay fever, and eczema - and now, with antibodies kid's need to ward off common allergens.
PGEs are increasing allergy risks up to 180 percent.
Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, professor of public health science at Karlstad University and associated with the SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, says "...higher concentration of PGEs in indoor air was associated with children evincing antibodies against allergens such as cats, dogs, pollen...".
Bornehag went on to say, "...since small children and pregnant women spend a great deal of their time there and there are many indications that exposing fetuses and infants is probably more risky. Our current research is addressing this, that is, what does it entail in terms of chronic conditions later in life that we expose fetuses and infants to a great number of chemicals that are suspected of being toxic."
The Housing-Children-Health study involved198 preschool children with asthma and allergy and 202 healthy controls. Dwellings were examined by professional inspectors, and air samples were taken in the children's bedrooms, where eight groups of volatile compounds were analyzed. The children were examined by physicians. Parents responded to a questionnaire about the family's lifestyle. The article is a result of a collaboration between Karlstad University and the Harvard School of Public Health.
"We have previously shown that phthalates from soft PVD could be tied to allergic conditions in children," says Bornehag. "Now we have focused on PGEs, which are a group of volatile organic compounds found in water-based indoor paints and cleansers, for example. Among the PGE substances identified are compounds suspected of disturbing hormones, which was also the case regarding the phthalates we studied earlier."
An estimated 25,222 Rhode Island children currently have asthma. That's 12% of the Rhode Island population under 17. The state has a plan for reducing the burden of asthma through 2014.
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