What are dangers of using disinfectants during pregnancy?

The use of disinfectants by pregnant women increases the risk of asthma and eczema in children born to those women, new study published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine informs.

Previous studies have shown that exposure to workplace disinfectants is associated with asthma and dermatitis in exposed workers, but several studies have examined the effects of such products on pregnant women and their babies in the future.

A study by experts at the University of Yamanashi, Japan, involving 78,915 mother-child pairs found that children were significantly more likely to develop asthma or eczema if their mothers used disinfectants one to six times a week, compared with children of mothers who did not use such products.

There was an exposure-dependent relationship between prenatal exposure to disinfectants and the likelihood of allergic conditions, scientists said.

Children of mothers who had daily exposure to disinfectants had the highest chance of developing the problem. They had a 26 percent higher risk of asthma and a 29 percent higher risk of eczema. However, no significant association was found between disinfectant use and food allergies.