Environmental Factors and Asthma
Indoor air pollution from household cleaners and paints can cause allergic reactions and asthma, such as cigarette smoke, mold, and noxious fumes. Environmental factors such as noise, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ozone, cold temperatures and high humidity in susceptible individuals are all known to trigger asthma.
In addition, during periods of heavy air pollution, the symptoms of asthma and hospital admissions are greatly increased. Ozone is the major ingredient in smog degradation that can induce coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and may improve infection sensitivity. Gas stoves are also the primary source of indoor nitrogen dioxide. Studies show that people who cook with gas are more likely than those who cook with other methods to have wheezing, breathlessness, asthma attacks, and hay fever. More than half of the U.S. population is estimated to use gas stoves.