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New lung irritant in some common household cleaners

Respiratory Care Weekly, August 2, 2006

A chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs, and other deodorizing products might be harmful to the lungs, according to a government study published in the August Environmental Health Perspectives. Human studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a part of the National Institutes of Health, found that exposure to a volatile organic compound called 1,4 dichlorobenzene may reduce lung function.

"Because people spend so much time indoors where these products are used, it's important that we understand the effects that even low levels might have on the respiratory system," says Leslie Elliott, PhD, one of the researchers. "There has been very little research on the health effects of this particular compound in nonoccupational settings."

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