Pollution 'Begins at Home'

Individuals concerned about the impact of pollution on their basic health may wish to look closer to home than is typically the case.

According to the American Sociological Association, members of the public typically blame pollution on large-scale environmental effects.

But doing so could be putting their basic health at risk as they allow contaminants to proliferate in their own homes.

Sociologist Rebecca Gasior Altman, lead author of a study recently published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, explains that home pollution has been a "blind spot" for many years.

Her research indicated that government officials may be afraid to provide too much information about the health risks which may be posed by common household substances.

But, among members of the public surveyed, she discovered an appetite for more health information, not less.

Among the products which can expose individuals to chemicals, the team identified food packaging, cosmetics and cleaning fluids.

Parents with asthmatic children were previously told that environmental effects can have a negative impact on their offspring's ability to breathe.

Cities with high levels of public transport or diesel-fuelled vehicles are particularly dangerous places for young people with asthma, researchers from the Institute Nacional de Sauld Publica in Mexico found.