Asthma caused by cleaning chemicals has been recognized for 20 years, and there is still a lot of interest in this issue owing to the high number of cleaning employees who have respiratory difficulties. In this review, researchers aimed to highlight the most current data on the link between cleaning product exposure and asthma, as well as to synthesize the particular literature published between 2013 and 2016. Women are shown to be the majority of employees exposed to cleaning chemicals, and they have a greater incidence of work-related respiratory symptoms and illnesses than males. Asthma problems caused by cleaning chemicals are common in healthcare jobs. The higher risk of asthma has been linked to the number of years on the work as well as early life disadvantage. Recent research shows that a genetic susceptibility to adult-onset asthma may be linked to occupational exposure to low-molecular weight agents/irritants. Although some case reports revealed an immunologic process, there is some indication that an irritating mechanism is more prevalent.
The study updated new data on epidemiology, cleaning agents and their mechanisms, and cleaning agent-induced asthma prevention. This paper adds to the knowledge about the amount of exposure, which is still high in professional cleaners and significantly higher in household cleaners, as well as the prevalence of asthma in both professional and domestic cleaners. An irritating mechanism is more prevalent, but an immunological mechanism is also conceivable, particularly in healthcare workers exposed to disinfectants.
Reference: https://journals.lww.com/co-allergy/Abstract/2017/04000/Update_on_asthma_and_cleaning_agents.7.aspx
