Household chemicals: good housekeeping or occupational hazard?

I n the Western world the role of air pollution in the initiation of respiratory disease in children is contentious [1]. There is good evidence that air pollution can trigger symptoms in susceptible children but its contribution to the pathogenesis of childhood respiratory disorders, such as asthma, remains unclear. There has been considerable interest in traffic-related pollutants and studies have investigated the prevalence of asthma and wheeze in children living near main roads [2–4]. While this remains an important area of research, there is also concern about exposure to air pollutants in the indoor environment. In developed countries, people spend most of their time indoors and in the case of many air pollutants, the indoor environment is the principal source of exposure.