Other Airborne Irritants
Many airborne particles other than tobacco smoke can also trigger asthma attacks. Many of these are products from construction and industrial manufacturing. In these cases, the location of your asthma attacks might help you pinpoint the trigger.
One common airborne irritant in the home is nitrogen dioxide. This is a byproduct from gas-burning appliances, such as gas and kerosene space heaters. Nitrogen dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that irritates the lungs of asthma sufferers. You can take some easy steps to minimize nitrogen dioxide exposure. First, don’t let your car idle in an enclosed garage. Second, always keep rooms where fuel-burning appliances are used well ventilated. Third, if you have a gas-burning stove, install an exhaust fan to vent its gasses outside. Finally, always follow the manufacturers’ instructions (including proper ventilation) when using gas or kerosene space heaters.