New research carried out in the UK indicates that air fresheners and aerosols can cause headaches and depression in mothers and diarrhoea and earache in babies. The more frequently the mother uses aerosols, it seems, the more likely she and her baby are to have problems.

The study was carried out by scientists at Bristol University, UK. You can read about it in the Archives of Environmental Health. The researchers suggest that some people should consider limiting their use of aerosols.

The study involved 14,000 children - they were monitored from before birth. It focussed on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These can also be found in solvents, floor adhesives, paint, furnishings and cleaning products.

The researchers interviewed 10,000 mothers and went into the homes of 170 children.

They found that where air fresheners in the home were used daily (sticks, sprays and aerosols), incidences of diarrhoea were 32% higher than in homes that used them just once a week. Incidences of earache were also higher.

Daily aerosol use (polish, deodorant, hairspray) resulted in 32% more cases of infant's and mother's health problems. Mothers were 26% more likely to suffer from depression, 10% more likely to have headaches.

Dr Alexandra Farrow, team leader, said "People may think that using these products makes their homes cleaner and healthier, but being cleaner may not necessarily mean being healthier. Air fresheners combined with other aerosol and household products contribute to a complex mixture of chemicals and a build-up of VOCs in the home environment."

Dr Farrow said pregnant mothers as well as infants up to the age of six months are the most susceptible to household sprays because they spend the most amount of time in the home - about 80% of their time.

Dr. Farrow added "There may also be implications for other groups who are at home a good deal, such as old people. More research is needed, but in the meantime, it might be safer to limit use of air fresheners and aerosols in the home. Squeezing a lemon is just as effective at freshening the air."

Dr Chris Flower Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumery Association, said, "Cosmetic products such as hairsprays and deodorants are required by legislation to be safe in normal use. Aerosol forms of these products are labelled with advice that they should not be used in confined spaces and current evidence shows these products are safe. We shall be looking into the new research by Bristol University to see whether people are following advice and whether additional advice may be required."