Association between Occupational Exposure to Disinfectants and Asthma in Young Adults Working in Cleaning or Health Services: Results from a Cross-Sectional Analysis in Germany

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Tobias Weinmann - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Felix Forster - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Erika Von Mutius - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Christian Vogelberg - , Department of Paediatrics, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jon Genuneit - , Ulm University, University Hospital Leipzig (Author)
  • Doris Windstetter - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Dennis Nowak - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Katja Radon - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)
  • Jessica Gerlich - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL) - Partner site Munich (Author)

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the association of occupational disinfectants use with asthma and wheezing in young professionals. Methods: Three hundred sixty-five participants from the German Study on Occupational Allergy Risks II aged 20 to 24 years and working in cleaning or health services answered a questionnaire on respiratory health, occupational exposure to disinfectants, and potential confounders. By logistic regression, we calculated the association between duration of occupational disinfectants exposure and doctor-diagnosed asthma, current asthma, and current wheezing. Results: Individuals exposed to disinfectants for more than 12 months had almost three times the odds of doctor-diagnosed asthma compared with those not exposed (odds ratio [OR]: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-6.55). Conclusions: Our findings provide some further evidence for an association between occupational exposure to disinfectants and asthma, indicating that this association can be seen already after the first year of exposure.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)754-759
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of occupational and environmental medicine
Volume61
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31233007

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • asthma, disinfectants, occupational health, wheezing, young adults