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Short-term respiratory effects of cleaning exposures in female domestic cleaners

¹ Respiratory and Environmental Health Research Unit, Municipal Institute of Medical Research, and, ² Dept of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain. Depts of ³ Environmental Health and, ⁴ Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, and ⁵ Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dept of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. ⁶ Occupational Lung Disease Unit, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

CORRESPONDENCE: J. P. Zock, Respiratory and Environmental Health Research Unit, Municipal Institute of Medical Research (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader 80, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain, Fax: 34 932216448. E-mail: jpzock{at}imim.es

Keywords: Asthma, chronic bronchitis, cleaning, irritants, occupational, peak expiratory flow

Received: July 21, 2005
Accepted February 19, 2006

Symptoms of obstructive lung disease in domestic cleaners have been related to the use of bleach and other irritant cleaning products. The short-term effects of cleaning exposures on respiratory symptoms and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were investigated in domestic cleaners with respiratory disorders.

In a panel study, 43 female domestic cleaners with a recent history of asthma and/or chronic bronchitis completed a 2-week diary, collecting information on respiratory symptoms, PEF and cleaning exposures. Mixed regression models were used to assess daily changes in symptoms and PEF associated with specific cleaning exposures. The probability of having work-related asthma was individually assessed by a computerised diagnostic system and an occupational asthma expert.

Lower respiratory tract symptoms were more common on working days and were predominantly associated with exposure to diluted bleach, degreasing sprays/atomisers and air fresheners. Associations with upper respiratory tract symptoms and PEF were less apparent. Eleven (30%) subjects scored positively for work-related asthma.

It is concluded that exposure to certain irritant cleaning products aggravates lower respiratory tract symptoms in female domestic cleaners with asthma or chronic bronchitis.

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