Please note: While some information will still be current in a year, other information may already be out of date in three months time. If you are in any doubt, please feel free to ask.

cystic. fibrosis

Question
Is it safe to use fabreeze plugin around the home?
Answer
Hi Thank you for thsi question and apologies for the delay in answering. As far as we can find out from the literature this type of air freshener contains a substance known a hydrroxypropyl beta-cylodextrim (HPBCD for short) and is used in many different types of medical treatments as well as household products such as air fresheners. No scientific studies have looked at the effect this substance has on the lungs if it is inhaled by people with lung disease.

That said there are some reports of breathing difficulties caused by inhaling air fresheners but as far as we can gather these air fresheners contain more volatile chemical substances than HPBCD which seems to be a complex simple sugar.

There are no guidleines relevant to this question. In summary we suggest you speak to your local CF Centre about this and also it is worth checking with the CF person in the home if they feel any subjective effects from your plug in air fresher then you may opt against using this.

We hope this answers your question.

Regards
Susan martin
Judy Bradley
04.07.2012
The answer is edited by: Prof Judy Bradley