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25. 04. 12. - 08:00

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25. 04. 12. - 08:00

Air freshners

Kathryn Quinn

A new Swiss study has shown that perfumed cleaning products and air fresheners can lead to high blood pressure and heart attacks.

Researchers found out that scents from the products cause problems with the heart beat.

It was already known that such products can cause asthma and breathing problems, but the new research shows that it can also have a more damaging effect on the heart.

The investigation was carried out by the Tropical Institute in Basel, and Basel University, after a test on the impact of the regular use of cleaning sprays, air fresheners and perfumed products.

The study looked at 581 older mostly female subjects as part of a general study on air pollution and breathing problems. The aim was to assess the long term effects of air pollution on the overall health.

Most of the women involved were full-time house wives and gave detailed information about their use of spray cleaning products they regularly used in the home such as oven cleaner, ironing spray, air freshener and other perfumed products.

The heart rhythms of these people were tested and analysed. The team analysed the heart beat and heart functionality.

The results showed that the heart beat of those who used more of the products was considerably worse.

They published their results in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal.

The worst offending products were the air freshener room sprays, and they also found that women who already had lung problems were more at risk of the heart problems.

The study concluded that high use of these products could increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart attacks.

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