Air fresheners, candles and household cleaning products are putting our lives at risk, according to a study.

The air pollution created by these products is increasing the risk of health problems, said the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in a joint report.

They also said an estimated 40,000 people die each year from long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution.

“Being indoors can offer some protection against outdoor air pollution, but it can also expose us to other air pollution sources,” said the report.

“There is now good awareness of the risks from badly maintained gas appliances, radioactive radon gas and second-hand tobacco smoke, but indoors we can also be exposed to NO2 from gas cooking and solvents that slowly seep from plastics, paints and furnishings.

“The lemon and pine scents that we use to make our homes smell fresh can react chemically to generate air pollutants, and ozone-based air fresheners can also cause indoor air pollution.”

The report concluded that exposure to pollutants from both inside and outside the home could be contributing to thousands more deaths than previously estimated.

Air pollution has been linked to cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes, obesity and dementia.

Dr Andrew Goddard, from the RCP, said: “Taking action to tackle air pollution in the UK will reduce the pain and suffering for many people with long-term chronic health conditions, not to mention lessening the long-term demands on our NHS.”

Professor Jonathan Grigg, from the RCPCH, said: “There is clear evidence to suggest that long-term exposure to air pollution has a wide range of adverse effects in childhood, and exposure during early life can lead to the development of serious conditions such as asthma.”

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