Parents striving to keep a spotless house may unwittingly trigger asthma in their children. Toddlers exposed to fumes from solvents and cleaning products at home are most at risk, a recent Australian study reveals.

Polishes, room fresheners and new carpets were some of the triggers identified by a Curtin University of Technology team, Thorax reported. Children exposed to the highest levels of volatile organic compounds were four times more likely to have asthma.

VOCs are irritants and indoor sources include solvents, floor adhesives, paint, furnishings and cleaning products. Levels were measured twice - once in the winter and again in the summer. The children's parents were asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire on their child's health.

In particular, benzene - which is used to make rubbers, dyes and detergents and is also a component of gasoline, which has been linked to cancers - almost tripled the risk of asthma for every 10 unit increase of this compound.

Another important risk factor for asthma was allergy.

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