New Research Links Ammonia to Asthma

Jan Paul Zock, A leading health expert from Centre of Research in environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona Spain announced new research that reveals an increase in asthma and worsening of existing symptoms when exposed to ammonia or other chemicals.   Zock said that through experiments and studies higher rates of asthma had found among professionals who can experience regular exposure to ammonia and other chemicals in the workplace. The expert said, people inhaling ammonia more than a week are 20% more likely to develop asthma or wheezing. Professionals who use ammonia and similar chemicals more frequently will be at more risk than those who use them for longer durations. The concentration of the chemical, in addition to room ventilation, also affect the risk.

Zock and his research partners examined the relationship between self-reported work tasks and the use of products containing ammonia or bleach with new-onset asthma among nurses and other healthcare workers in the European Community respiratory Health Survey (ECRHSII).   The researchers concluded that the use of ammonia or bleach lead to increased risks of developing asthma and wheezing among professionals.

The ECRHSII research paper is available here.