Homemakers, beware! Household work, particularly cleaning, might be bad for your health as it could increase the risk of asthma.

Yes, scientists in Europe have carried out a study and found that using air fresheners and furniture cleaners even once a week raises the chance of developing asthma, the Daily Mail reported in London [Images].

According to lead researcher Dr Jan-Paul Zock of the Municipal Institute of Medical Research in Spain, "Frequent use of household cleaning sprays may be an important risk factor for adult asthma.

"The relative risk rates of developing adult asthma in relation to exposure to cleaning products could account for as much as 15 per cent, or one in seven of adult asthma cases."

In fact, the researchers came to the conclusion after examining over 3,500 people across 22 centres in ten European countries over a period of nine years.

The people were assessed for asthma, wheezing and allergies twice over that period, and were also asked to report the number of times per week they used cleaning sprays.

According to the study, on average the risk of asthma was found to be 40 per cent higher in people regularly exposed to cleaning sprays than in others.

The risk of developing asthma increased with frequency of cleaning and number of different sprays used.

The researchers found that cleaning sprays, especially air fresheners, furniture cleaners and glass-cleaners, had a particularly strong effect.

The findings have been published in the latest edition of the 'American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine'.