Occupational Asthma Reference

Carder M, Seed MJ, Money A, Agius RM, van Tongeren M, Occupational and work-related respiratory disease attributed to cleaning product, Occup Environ Med, 2019;76:530-536,http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105646

Keywords: UK, cleaning, QSAR, SWORD, UK,

Known Authors

Raymond Agius, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Manchester University Raymond Agius

Martin Seed, Manchester University Martin Seed

Annemarie Money, Manchester University Annemarie Money

Melanie Carder, COEH Manchester Melanie Carder

Martie van Tongeren, Manchester University Martie van Tongeren

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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Comments

QSAR applied to cleaning agents, positive scores for Chlorhexidine (1), Formaldehyde (1), Diethanolamine (0.88), Glutaraldehyde (0.6), Ethanolamine (0.56), (Sodium) dichloroisocyanurate (0.49).
6/15/2019

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