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. 2020 Feb;62(2):130-137.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001771.

Cleaning Products and Work-Related Asthma, 10 Year Update

Kenneth Rosenman  1 , Mary Jo Reilly, Elise Pechter, Kathleen Fitzsimmons, Jennifer Flattery, Justine Weinberg, Karen Cummings, Marija Borjan, Margaret Lumia, Robert Harrison, Katelynn Dodd, Patricia Schleiff
Affiliations

Cleaning Products and Work-Related Asthma, 10 Year Update

Kenneth Rosenman et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the frequency of work-related asthma (WRA) and characteristics of individuals with exposure to cleaning products 1998 to 2012, compared with 1993 to 1997.

Methods: Cases of WRA from products used for cleaning or disinfecting surfaces were identified from California, Massachusetts, Michigan (1998 to 2012), New Jersey (1998 to 2011), and New York (2009 to 2012).

Results: There were 1199 (12.4%) cleaning product cases among all 9667 WRA cases; 77.8% women, 62.1% white non-Hispanic, and average age of 43 years. The highest percentages worked in healthcare (41.1%), and were building cleaners (20.3%), or registered nurses (14.1%).

Conclusions: The percentage of WRA cases from exposure to cleaning products from 1998 to 2012 was unchanged from 1993 to 1997 indicating that continued and additional prevention efforts are needed to reduce unnecessary use, identify safer products, and implement safer work processes.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have a conflict of interest

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