On the Instagram account of Gezondheidsgoeroes,a webshop that sells,among other things,dietary supplements,a video has appeared suggesting that the use of cleaning products can lead to lung cancer. The video has now been viewed approximately 640,000 times.
“Getting lung cancer without ever having smoked in your life? Something we are hearing more and more frequently enough, especially among young people,” the video states. The creator claims to have found the answer in a study comparing the effects of long-term exposure to cleaning products with smoking one to two packs of cigarettes a day.
Cleaning is not the same as smoking
The Instagram video refers to a scientific study from 2018 by Norwegian researcher Øistein svanes of the University of Bergen. The study followed 6,235 cleaners for twenty years. Both their cleaning habits at home and at work, as well as their lung function, were mapped using questionnaires and lung function tests.
The study showed that women who worked as cleaners were more likely to suffer from asthma and other respiratory problems and also showed a faster decline in their lung function. Their children also had an increased risk of asthma, especially when the mother was professionally exposed to cleaning products before and during pregnancy. In addition, household cleaning was also associated with an accelerated decline in lung function in women.
The researchers concluded that this decline in lung function was comparable to that of smoking ten to twenty cigarettes a day.But that does not mean that cleaning is the same as smoking. The study only states that exposure to cleaning products can have similar effects on lung function as smoking.
Lung cancer not investigated
lung cancer was not investigated in the Norwegian study. It is indeed thus incorrect to state that cleaning causes lung cancer,simply as it woudl have a similar effect on lung function.
PHASE 1: ADVERSARIAL RESEARCH, FRESHNESS & BREAKING-NEWS CHECK
Source Assessment: The provided source is identified as untrusted, requiring complete independent verification.
Factual Claim Verification & Updates (as of 2026/01/23 19:36:07):
* Claim: Mixing cleaning products is risky due to chemical reactions. VERIFIED. The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the CDC consistently warn against mixing cleaning products, especially bleach with ammonia or acids, as this can create toxic gases. (https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/002003.htm, https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/chemical-hazards/cleaning-products.html)
* claim: Spray use increases risk. PARTIALLY VERIFIED. Aerosolized cleaning products can increase exposure risk, particularly to the lungs. However, the risk isn’t solely from the spray mechanism, but from the chemicals within the spray. Proper ventilation is crucial when using sprays.(https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/cleaning-disinfecting-and-indoor-air-quality)
* Claim: Exposure can lead to asthma and chronic bronchitis. VERIFIED. Multiple studies link occupational exposure to cleaning products with increased rates of asthma and respiratory symptoms.The European Lung Foundation and the American Thoracic Society have published research on this. (https://www.ersnet.org/news/cleaning-products-linked-to-lung-damage-study-finds, https://www.thoracic.org/)
* Claim: Effects are smaller for home cleaners than professional cleaners. VERIFIED. Exposure duration and concentration are key factors. Professional cleaners typically have higher and more frequent exposure levels. Studies consistently show a correlation between occupational cleaning and respiratory issues.
* Claim: Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer. VERIFIED. This remains the consensus of major cancer organizations like the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the World Health Organization. (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer/causes-risk-factors.html, https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/lung-cancer)
* Claim: Asbestos,radon,and air pollution are also lung cancer risk factors. VERIFIED. These are well-established risk factors, consistently cited by cancer organizations.
* Claim: Diesel exhaust, arsenic, and welding fumes are workplace risks for lung cancer, especially for smokers. VERIFIED. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies these as carcinogens.(https://www.iarc.who.int/)
* Claim: Cleaning products are not listed as lung cancer risks. VERIFIED. Currently, major cancer organizations do not list cleaning products as direct causes of lung cancer. However, research is ongoing regarding the potential for long-term, low-level exposure to contribute to cancer risk.
Breaking News Check: As of 2026/01/23 19:36:07, there are no breaking news reports significantly altering the understanding of the risks associated with cleaning products and lung health. Recent research (late 2024/early 2025) continues to focus on the impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by cleaning products on respiratory health, but no definitive link to causing lung cancer has been established.
PHASE 2: ENTITY-BASED GEO (GENERATIVE ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)
1.Primary Entity: Cleaning Products & Respiratory Health
2. Related Entities:
* Organizations:
* Longkanker Nederland ([https://www.longkankernederland.nl/](https://www.longk
