Relationships between asthma and work exposures among non-domestic cleaners in Ontario.
BACKGROUND
Cleaners have been reported to have increased risk for work-related asthma symptoms but few studies have studied non-domestic cleaners. In this study, we compared work-related asthma symptoms among cleaners and other building workers and determined associations with tasks.


METHODS
School and racetrack workers in Ontario, Canada, completed a questionnaire to identify the prevalence of cleaning tasks, physician-diagnosed asthma, new-onset asthma, respiratory symptoms, and work-related asthma symptoms.


RESULTS
Cleaners and controls had a similar prevalence of most asthma outcomes although female cleaners reported significantly more respiratory symptoms; odds ratio (OR), 2.59 confidence intervals (CI) 1.6-4.3, and work-related asthma symptoms, OR 3.90 (CI 2.1-7.4) compared with female controls with adjustment for age and smoking history. Male cleaners showed a non-significant trend to more physician-diagnosed asthma, adjusted OR 2.10 (CI 0.9-4.8) and work-related asthma symptoms, adjusted OR 1.53 (CI 0.8-3.0). The work-related asthma symptoms among men were significantly associated with waxing floors, OR 2.19 (CI 1.0-4.4); wax-stripping floors, OR 2.54 (1.2-5.2); spot-cleaning carpets, OR 2.20 (1.3-3.8); and cleaning tiles, OR 4.46 (1.0-19.3) and grout, OR 2.12 (1.1-4.0).


CONCLUSIONS
Female cleaners have more asthma symptoms worse at work than controls. Work-related asthma symptoms among male cleaners were associated with a number of specific cleaning tasks. Findings suggest the need for school cleaners to have reduced exposure to cleaning chemicals and need for protective strategies during performance of tasks expected to exacerbate asthma, such as wax stripping.
Obadia
Maya
M
Gage Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Liss
Gary M
GM
Lou
Wendy
W
Purdham
James
J
Tarlo
Susan M
SM
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003902:Detergents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution
D003902:Detergents