Common bathroom habit putting UK households at 'higher risk of cancer'

A regular bathroom habit has been linked with a higher risk of cancer. Harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and VOCs, are often present in some cleaners, which can lead to indoor air pollution, according to bombshell studies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) links this to respiratory issues and even cancer in extreme cases. A substantial number of scientific studies now have found that chemicals, including VOCs, emitted from cleaning and sanitizing products may have health effects, primarily in those using the products professionally, but also in those doing domestic cleaning in their own homes.

Several groups of cleaning or sanitizing products were associated with increased risks of respiratory effects, including bleach, cleaners/abrasives, toilet cleaners, detergents, and ammonia; and glutaraldehyde/ortho-phtaldehyde, chloramines, and ethylene oxide.

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A statement on Gov.uk and the NHS websites said: "Formaldehyde has been classified as a cancer causing chemical in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There is evidence that formaldehyde causes nasal tumours (tumours of the nose) and leukaemia in industrial workers exposed over long periods of time (years)."

An earlier study had found that a high frequency of using spray products during household cleaning (especially glass-cleaning and furniture sprays and air freshening sprays) was associated with a 40% increase in wheeze, a 50% increase in asthma symptoms or medication use, and approximately a 100% increase in incidence in physician-diagnosed asthma.

IAQ Science explained: "There is substantial evidence that individuals who do cleaning as their work have an increased risk of adverse respiratory health effects and asthma. There is limited evidence that increased non-occupational (home owner) use of household cleaning sprays increases the risks of the same health effects. Because cleaning activities will often simultaneously increase exposures to VOCs and other pollutants, the links of cleaning work to adverse respiratory health effects are not necessarily a consequence of cleaning-related exposures to VOCs."