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Occupational and work-related respiratory disease attributed to cleaning products.
- Source :
-
Occupational and environmental medicine [Occup Environ Med] 2019 Aug; Vol. 76 (8), pp. 530-536. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jun 05. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Objectives: Exposure to cleaning products has been associated with adverse respiratory outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the medically reported incidence, trends in incidence and occupational determinants of work-related respiratory disorders attributed to cleaning agents and to explore the role of 'Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships' (QSAR) in corroborating the identification of chemical respiratory sensitisers.<br />Methods: Respiratory diagnoses attributed to cleaning agents were extracted from The Health and Occupation Research (THOR) surveillance network, 1989-2017. Incidence, trends in incidence and incidence rate ratios by occupation were investigated. Agents were classified by chemical type and QSAR hazard indices were determined for specific organic chemicals.<br />Results: Approximately 6% (779 cases) of the (non-asbestos) THOR respiratory cases were attributed to cleaning agents. Diagnoses were predominantly asthma (58%) and inhalation accidents (27%) with frequently reported chemical categories being aldehydes (30%) and chlorine/its releasers (26%). No significant trend in asthma incidence (1999-2017) was observed (annual average change of -1.1% (95% CI -4.4 to 2.4)). This contrasted with a statistically significant annual decline in asthma incidence (-6.8% (95% CI -8.0 to -5.6)) for non-cleaning agents. There was a large variation in risk between occupations. 7 of the 15 organic chemicals specifically identified had a QSAR generated hazard index consistent with being a respiratory sensitiser.<br />Conclusion: Specific occupations appear to be at increased risk of adverse respiratory outcomes attributed to cleaning agents. While exposure to agents such as glutaraldehyde have been addressed, other exposures, such as to chlorine, remain important. Chemical features of the cleaning agents helped distinguish between sensitising and irritant agents.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aldehydes adverse effects
Asthma chemically induced
Asthma epidemiology
Chlorine adverse effects
Disinfectants adverse effects
Female
Household Products adverse effects
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases chemically induced
Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship
Respiratory Tract Diseases chemically induced
United Kingdom epidemiology
Occupational Diseases epidemiology
Occupational Exposure adverse effects
Respiratory Tract Diseases epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1470-7926
- Volume :
- 76
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Occupational and environmental medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 31167951
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105646