Occupation of pregnant mothers can cause asthma in children

Mothers exposed to certain substances and chemicals during pregnancy could give birth to children with a higher risk of asthma, scientists have found.

New research carried out by scientists in Denmark for the European Lung Foundation revealed that the mother's occupation during pregnancy can increase exposure to these agents, increasing the risk.

Although exposure to these elements was known to cause higher risk of asthma in individuals, this is the first study to look at exposure during pregnancy.

Of the mothers exposed to natural substances and synthetic chemicals in vehicle parts, furniture, shoe soles, paints, varnish, glues and wood-derived products, 15. 8 per cent had asthma themselves, while the children of those mothers had an asthma rate of 18.6 per cent.

There were no significant associations with asthma found within other occupation groups.

"Whilst a link has been found, our results at this stage are modest and further research is needed into specific chemicals and substances to determine those that could be most harmful," said Dr Berit Hvass Christensen, from the School of Public Health in Denmark.