A field study on clinical signs and symptoms in cleaners at floor polish removal and application in a Swedish hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To study health effects in hospital cleaners (N = 21) at floor polish removal and application.


METHODS
The cleaners were investigated before exposure (Monday = day 1), after polish removal work (day 2), and after application of floor polish (day 3). Ratings of symptoms, tear-film break-up-time (BUT), nasal patency and biomarkers in nasal lavage were studied.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase both day 2 and day 3, as compared to pre-exposure, in ocular, nasal, throat symptoms, solvent smell, dyspnoea, and general symptoms such as headache and fatigue. Posterior nasal patency was decreased day 2 (p < 0.01) and day 3 (p < 0.01). No change of nasal biomarkers (ECP, MPO, lysozyme, albumin) was seen. BUT was decreased after polish removal (p < 0.01), but not after polish application. Separate test of the weekday effect in non-exposed showed slight improvements, or no change of symptoms or clinical signs from Monday to Wednesday. Air concentrations of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and ethylene glycol phenyl ether 103, 666, 13,650, 7,000, 67, and 27 microg/m(3), respectively, at polish application. Glycol ether levels were reduced to 3% after 2 days and 0.3% after 17 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Emissions from a common water-based polish remover and floor polish system may cause ocular and airway irritation and general symptoms, and reduce tear-film stability and nasal patency. The levels of glycol ethers had a rapid decay.
Wieslander
Gunilla
G
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. gunilla.wieslander@medsci.uu.se
Norbäck
Dan
D
D000328:Adult; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007219:Industrial Oils / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013548:Sweden
Toxicol Lett. 2006 Apr 10;162(2-3):186-94
16289654
Rhinology. 2000 Sep;38(3):130-5
11072659
Contact Dermatitis. 1989 Mar;20(3):220-1
2524354
Sci Total Environ. 1998 Apr 23;215(1-2):135-56
9599458
Scand J Work Environ Health. 1981 Dec;7(4):282-9
7347913
Scand J Work Environ Health. 1999 Apr;25(2):137-43
10360469
Scand J Work Environ Health. 2001 Feb;27(1):76-81
11266151
Occup Environ Med. 2005 Aug;62(8):581-4
16046612
Occup Environ Med. 2005 Sep;62(9):598-606
16109815
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2002 Jun;75(5):298-304
11981668
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1991 Sep 1;110(2):198-205
1891768
Inflammation. 1990 Aug;14(4):447-54
2166003
Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh). 1987 Aug;65(4):385-92
3310505
Lancet. 1999 May 22;353(9166):1750-4
10347988
Eur Respir J. 2002 Sep;20(3):679-85
12358347
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1998 Feb;148(2):281-7
9473536
Clin Exp Allergy. 1991 Sep;21(5):561-7
1742647
Scand J Haematol. 1979 Apr 4;22(4):317-26
224447
Allergy. 1997;52(40 Suppl):3-6
9353553
J Occup Environ Med. 2007 Aug;49(8):880-9
17693786
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Nov;73(8):561-9
11100951
Thorax. 2003 Nov;58(11):950-4
14586047
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1999 Oct;72(7):451-61
10541910
Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2000 Sep;73(7):498-502
11057419
Scand J Work Environ Health. 2000 Dec;26(6):514-22
11201399
Occup Environ Med. 1994 Mar;51(3):181-6
8130846
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Oct 15;176(8):735-41
17585104