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Children are up to three times more likely to develop conditions like asthma and hayfever due to chemicals found in some wall paints and cleansers. Researchers from Karlstad University in Sweden found youngsters had up to 180 per cent greater risk of developing allergies if they were exposed to chemicals known as PGEs in their bedrooms. The study looked at the effect of PGE chemicals, which are found in some wall paints and plastic toys and packaging Study leader Professor Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, said: 'The study shows for the first time that the concentration of PGEs, propylene glycol and glycol ethers, in bedroom air was linked to an increased risk of developing asthma, rhinitis and eczema in children.  'The increase in risk varied between 50 and 180 per cent. It was also found that a higher concentration of PGEs in indoor air was associated with children evincing antibodies (IgE) against allergens such as cats, dogs, pollen.   'Our analyses also revealed that the use

A mother was killed by a sting after trying to save Britain's dwindling population of bees. Alison Piercy, 47, started her hobby of beekeeping last year because she was worried about declining bee numbers in Britain. But the receptionist's interest proved fatal as she was stung below the eye while tending a hive. An inquest heard nephew Max Howe, 12, quickly removed the sting - but it was already too late. Bee specialist Ken Rawlings, who was with Ms Piercy and Max, tried heart massage. But Alison was pronounced dead at hosptial from an allergic reaction. The inquest heard the mother-of-one had been stung before, but might have been attacked by a different breed of bee in April while she was checking a hive in Connah's Quay, Flintshire. North East Wales deputy coroner Kirit Champaneria said: 'On the first time you could be immune to the string but on the odd occasion you might get a hyper-sensitive reaction to it and your immune system goes into overdrive.' A post-

Two-year-old Christopher Merrett has such severe food allergies that even the smell of pizza can send him into potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. The toddler from Colchester in Essex, was rushed to hospital after touching a shopping trolley which had minute traces of milk on it and even the ingredients in Play Dough, paints and crayons can trigger a severe allergic reaction. Christopher Merrett, pictured with his mother Michelle, is allergic to milk, egg, wheat, histamines and sulphites, found in soft and dried fruit Christopher's mother Michelle Merrett, 35, is using her new found knowledge to help other families buy specialist allergy free foods imported from America. Mrs Merrett said she first realised something was wrong with her son when he was weaned off of breastmilk at six months old and moved onto cows milk. Christopher kept getting infections and was moved onto soya milk which he was also allergic too. Tests revealed he is also allergic to egg, wheat, histamines a

A vaccine that would protect against a bird flu pandemic has been approved for sale in the EU. The ruling from the European Medicines Agency will allow the British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithkline to sell Prepandrix, which targets the H5N1 virus, in all 27 EU member states. Glaxo, which has spent £1billion developing the vaccine, has orders for eight million doses from Switzerland and 27.5million from the U.S. When the alert is sounded for a potential outbreak, millions can be innoculated with the pre-pandemic vaccine, providing protection for up to six months while scientists tailor drug treatments to the specific strain. While Prepandrix is based on the Vietnamese strain of H5N1, Glaxo chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier said it would offer a defence against other mutations. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'If the virus that is responsible for a pandemic alert is a cousin of H5N1, there will be a recognition in your immune system. 'Therefore you have a stronger

Chickens tested positive for a strain of bird flu at a farm in Oxfordshire yesterday. Unlike the highly virulent H5N1 strain, the H7 variation of the virus poses little threat to human health. But Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens confirmed last night that all the birds will be slaughtered 'as a precautionary measure'. Bird flu threat: The disease was found on a farm in Oxfordshire Tests are now being carried to determine the virulence of the H7 strain and a temporary control zone has been set up around the farm. All birds within three kilometres of the site must be housed or isolated from wild birds and movement of birds is banned within a 10-kilometre radius. Dr Judith Hilton, the Food Standards Agency's head of microbiological safety, said: 'This case of bird flu on a farm in Banbury, Oxfordshire poses no safety implications for the human food chain. 'Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. 'The scien

Chickens tested positive for a strain of bird flu at a farm in Oxfordshire yesterday. Unlike the highly virulent H5N1 strain, the H7 variation of the virus poses little threat to human health. But Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens confirmed last night that all the birds will be slaughtered 'as a precautionary measure'. Bird flu threat: The disease was found on a farm in Oxfordshire Tests are now being carried to determine the virulence of the H7 strain and a temporary control zone has been set up around the farm. All birds within three kilometres of the site must be housed or isolated from wild birds and movement of birds is banned within a 10-kilometre radius. Dr Judith Hilton, the Food Standards Agency's head of microbiological safety, said: 'This case of bird flu on a farm in Banbury, Oxfordshire poses no safety implications for the human food chain. 'Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat. 'The scien

A 'booster' jab with a new strain could protect these ‘pre-vaccinated’ people  within a week.Pandemic flu has been labelled the ‘gravest threat’ to the UK in a recent government report because of the speed it could sweep the world.  Some fear an emerging virus could reach the UK within a week. In the time it takes a vaccine that exactly matches the new strain to be developed and administered, thousands could die.Most people will have very little immunity to avian flu, unlike seasonal flu, which most people have been exposed to at some point.A series of vaccinations given over a month would be needed to give protection, and it would take another few weeks for the body's antibodies to build up. But the Leicester researchers say a single ‘booster’ jab with a new vaccine would be enough if people were ‘pre-vaccinated’ with an old strain of avian flu and it could work within a week. The investigators studied a population of people vaccinated against the H5N3 strain of bird flu