Traditional and environmentally preferable cleaning product exposure and health symptoms in custodians

Am J Ind Med. 2015 Sep;58(9):988-95. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22484. Epub 2015 Jun 4.

Abstract

Background: We investigated the associations between traditional and environmentally preferable cleaning product exposure and dermal, respiratory, and musculoskeletal symptoms in a population of custodians.

Methods: We analyzed associations between symptoms and exposure to traditional and environmentally preferable cleaning product exposure among 329 custodians.

Results: We observed increased odds of dermal (P < 0.01), upper (P = 0.01) and lower respiratory (P = 0.01), and upper extremity (P < 0.01), back (P < 0.01), and lower extremity (P = 0.01) musculoskeletal symptoms associated with increased typical traditional cleaning product exposure. We observed significant trends for increased odds of dermal (P = 0.03) and back (P = 0.04) and lower (P = 0.02) extremity musculoskeletal symptoms associated with increased typical environmentally preferable cleaning product exposure.

Conclusions: Fewer positive associations and reduced odds of health symptoms associated with environmentally preferable cleaning product exposure suggest that these products may represent a safer alternative to traditional cleaning products.

Keywords: exposure assessment; health and safety; occupational hygiene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Detergents / chemistry
  • Detergents / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Green Chemistry Technology
  • Household Work*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / chemically induced
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Occupational Diseases / chemically induced
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / chemically induced
  • Respiratory Tract Diseases / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Diseases / chemically induced
  • Skin Diseases / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Detergents