Asthma
Asthma Triggers: Gain Control
Chemical Irritants
About chemical irritants and asthma
Chemical irritants are found in some products in your house and may trigger asthma. Your asthma or your child's asthma may be worse around products such as cleaners, paints, adhesives, pesticides, cosmetics or air fresheners. Chemical irritants are also present in schools and can be found in commonly used cleaning supplies and educational kits.
Chemical irritants may exacerbate asthma. At sufficient concentrations in the air, many products can trigger a reaction.
Environmental Asthma Triggers
- Secondhand Smoke
- Dust Mites
- Molds
- Cockroaches and Pests
- Pets
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Outdoor Air Pollution
- Chemical Irritants
- Wood Smoke
For all EPA asthma resources and publications, visit the Publications webpage.
Actions you can take
If you find that your asthma or your child's asthma gets worse when you use a certain product, consider trying different products.
If you must use a product, then you should:
- Make sure your child is not around.
- Open windows or doors, or use an exhaust fan.
- Always follow the instructions on the product label.
Additional resources
Develop an Asthma Action Plan
(PDF, 2 pp, 124 K, About PDF) En Español