title: Acute symptoms associated with chemical exposures and safe work practices among hospital and campus cleaning workers: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cleaning workers are regularly exposed to cleaning products containing hazardous chemicals. This study investigated acute symptoms associated with chemical exposures among cleaning workers and their safe work practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 183 cleaning workers employed in an academic medical center and affiliated health sciences campuses in Northern California. Data on respiratory, eye, skin, neurological, and gastrointestinal symptoms and occupational factors were collected by in-person interviews or self-administered questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chemical-related symptoms (several times monthly or more often) were more common among workers who performed patient area cleaning (44%) than hospital custodians (36%) or campus custodians (28%). After controlling for age, sex, and job title, symptoms were associated with exposure to carpet cleaners (OR = 2.98, 95% CI 1.28-6.92), spray products (OR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.16-6.82), solvents (OR = 2.71, 95% CI 1.20-6.15), and multi-purpose cleaners (OR = 2.58, 935% CI 1.13-6.92). Except for gloves, regular use of personal protective equipment was infrequent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study findings suggest a need for additional interventions such as use of less toxic products to reduce health risks among cleaning workers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Soo-Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: OiSaeng
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000633:toxicity; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003902:Detergents / Q000633:toxicity; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006797:Housekeeping, Hospital / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D003902:Detergents; D012997:Solvents
keywords: chemical exposure; cleaners; cleaning; healthcare; safe work practice