Evaluation of cleaning activities on respiratory symptoms in asthmatic female homemakers.
BACKGROUND
Asthma among professional cleaners is recognized as a common cause of new-onset and aggravated occupational asthma. Women are usually the primary persons responsible for cleaning their homes, but little information is available regarding the health impact of cleaning in the nonoccupational setting.


OBJECTIVE
To compare health effects of cleaning among asthmatic and nonasthmatic women who are the primary cleaners in their homes.


METHODS
A 12-week, prospective, parallel-group study assessing the effects of cleaning on peak expiratory flow rates and upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in women with and without asthma.


RESULTS
Twenty-five women with asthma and 19 without asthma, ages 18 to 65 years, completed the study. No effect was observed on peak expiratory flow rates after cleaning between groups. Upper respiratory tract symptoms increased after cleaning for both groups, adjusted for chemical severity exposure index and duration of cleaning. However, the change in the number of lower respiratory tract symptoms (after cleaning minus before cleaning) was statistically significant for asthmatic patients compared with nonasthmatic patients (P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that cleaning activities are associated with increased lower respiratory tract symptoms in asthmatic patients independent of chemical severity exposure index and cleaning duration. Women with asthma should be routinely interviewed as to whether they clean their home and cautioned about the potential respiratory health effects of these activities.
Bernstein
Jonathan A
JA
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Immunology/Allergy Section, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Jonathan.Bernstein@uc.edu
Brandt
Dominique
D
Rezvani
Maziar
M
Abbott
Carol
C
Levin
Linda
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult