Domestic use of cleaning sprays and asthma activity in females

Abstract

We aimed to study the associations between the household use of cleaning sprays and asthma symptoms and control of asthma, in females from the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA).Data were available for 683 females (mean age 44 yrs, 55% never smokers, 439 without asthma and 244 with current asthma). Both domestic exposures and asthma phenotypes (asthma symptom score, current asthma, poorly-controlled asthma (56%)) were evaluated as previously described in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Associations between the use of sprays and asthma phenotypes were evaluated using logistic and nominal regressions, adjusted for age, smoking, body mass index and occupational exposures.Significant associations were observed between the weekly use of at least two types of sprays and a high asthma symptom score (OR (95% CI) 2.50 (1.54-4.03)) compared with a null score. Consistent results were observed for current asthma (1.67 (1.08-2.56)) and poorly-controlled asthma (2.05 (1.25-3.35)) compared with females without asthma. The association for current asthma was higher in females not reporting avoidance of polluted places (2.12 (1.27-3.54)) than in those reporting such avoidance (0.99 (0.53-1.85)).The common use of household cleaning sprays is positively associated with a high asthma symptom score, current asthma and poorly-controlled asthma in females.

Occupational exposures and uncontrolled adult-onset asthma in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II

“…In ECRHS, few subjects were exposed to specific hazards that might have been of interest (flour and diisocyanantes (,1% of subjects exposed)), which is a limitation of our analysis. For exposure to cleaning agents, our results are consistent with those observed between domestic exposure to cleaning sprays and poorly controlled asthma [9].…”

“…Few epidemiological studies have evaluated the environmental risk factors of asthma control [6,8]. For example, domestic exposures to products in spray form and air pollution have been found to be associated with poorly controlled asthma [6,9].…”

“…Multidimensional scales following Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines have been applied to define asthma control in epidemiology in both the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and the French Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA) [6][7][8][9][10]. This measure of asthma control on a categorical scale, combining diurnal and nocturnal respiratory symptoms, asthma attacks, activity limitations, lung function and exacerbations, has not been formally validated.…”

Moisture buffering, energy potential, and volatile organic compound emissions of wood exposed to indoor environments

“…Furthermore, exposure to chemical fumes from cleaning agents, e.g. formaldehyde and terpenes, were associated with an increased risk of developing asthma (Zock et al, 2001;Wolkoff et al, 2003;Le Moual et al, 2012).…”

Asthma control in the workplace

“…In this regard, the report from LE MOUAL et al [10] further stresses the role of occupational exposures on exacerbations. Interestingly, such influence of the workplace on asthma control seems particularly important for cleaning agents [14,[26][27][28]. This category of agents has been responsible for both new-onset occupational asthma, from sensitisation or ''toxic'' exposures (irritant-induced asthma/ reactive airway dysfunction syndrome), as well as for work-exacerbated asthma episodes.…”