COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91,056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study. Information on the use of sanitizers and disinfectants and health was collected using an electronic questionnaire, which was translated into 26 languages via web-based platforms. The findings of this study suggest that detergents, alcohol-based substances, and chlorinated compounds emerged as the most prevalent chemical agents compared to other sanitizers and disinfectants examined. Most frequently reported health issues include skin effects and respiratory effects. The Chi-square test showed a significant association between chlorinated compounds (sodium hypochlorite and per-chlorine) with all possible health effects under investigation ( p -value <0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that alcohols and alcohols-based materials were associated with skin effects (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87–2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye effects (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74–1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90–2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological effects (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92–2.44). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological effects (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92–2.44). The use of sodium hypochlorite and per-chlorine also had a high chance of having respiratory effects. The findings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics especially when they are used or overused. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-023-27197-6.
COVID-19 has affected all aspects of human life so far. From the outset of the pandemic, preventing the spread of COVID-19 through the observance of health protocols, especially the use of sanitizers and disinfectants was given more attention. Despite the effectiveness of disinfection chemicals in controlling and preventing COVID-19, there are critical concerns about their adverse effects on human health. This study aims to assess the health effects of sanitizers and disinfectants on a global scale. A total of 91056 participants from 154 countries participated in this cross-sectional study through an electronic questionnaire. Results implied that detergents (67%), alcohol-based materials (56%), and chlorinated compounds (32%) were the most commonly used types of sanitizers and disinfectants. Most frequently reported health issues include skin complications 48.8% and respiratory complications 29.8%. The Chi-square test showed a significant association between chlorinated compounds with all possible health complications under investigation (p-value < 0.001). Examination of risk factors based on multivariate regression analysis showed that alcohols-based materials were associated with skin complications (OR, 1.98; 95%CI, 1.87–2.09), per-chlorine was associated with eye complications (OR, 1.83; 95%CI, 1.74–1.93), and highly likely with itching and throat irritation (OR, 2.00; 95%CI, 1.90–2.11). Furthermore, formaldehyde was associated with a higher prevalence of neurological complications (OR, 2.17; 95%CI, 1.92–2.44). The findings of the current study suggest that health authorities need to implement more awareness programs about the side effects of using sanitizers and disinfectants during viral epidemics.
Introduction: Gynaecological complaints and primary dysmenorrhoea among young females are usually managed using popular myths, and have a wide spectrum of consequences on everyday life. Methods: A cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and basic knowledge, with a pre-post analysis after the intervention was applied. The study was carried in randomly selected female public schools in Damascus on a randomly selected sample of female students aging between 10 and 18 years old. We used a self-report questionnaire immediately before the awareness sessions and two weeks later. The questionnaire included multiple-choice questions on various aspects of the menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhoea and common myths in the Syrian society. The data were analyzed using SPSS ® , Microsoft Excel ® , and Microsoft Access ® software. Results: A total of 579 vs. 261 female students participated. The prevalence of dysmenorrhoea was 87.2%. Only 47.3% of participants knew the correct origin of menstruation blood, and most of them did not consult a doctor regarding the pain (91.6%). The answers were weighed and compared, resulting in an insignificant p-value for the students’ knowledge after the awareness campaign (p = 0.687, CI = 95%). Discussion and conclusion: Dysmenorrhoea is highly prevalent among Syrian school students. The modest knowledge on this condition, the use of home remedies and the insignificant improvement after the sessions indicate the need to focus on creatively improving information delivery methods in a long sustainable timeframe.
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