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Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians
Citation
Steinemann, A and Wheeler, AJ and Larcombe, A, Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatic Australians, Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health, 11, (4) pp. 365-371. ISSN 1873-9318 (2018) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2018 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
DOI: doi:10.1007/s11869-018-0560-x
Abstract
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.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | volatile organic compounds, fragranced consumer products, indoor air quality, exposure, asthma, air fresheners, fragrance-free policy |
| Research Division: | Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services |
| Research Group: | Human resources and industrial relations |
| Research Field: | Occupational and workplace health and safety |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
| Objective Field: | Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Wheeler, AJ (Dr Amanda Wheeler) |
| ID Code: | 130716 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 10 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2019-02-08 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-08-29 |
| Downloads: | 65 View Download Statistics |
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