Household Chores Can Give You Asthma
by Celia Hall
Doctors have added "cleaner's chest" to the long list of occupational diseases, including housemaid's knee and writer's cramp, because of new evidence that domestic cleaners have an increased risk of asthma.
Respiratory diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma were found to be more than twice as common among women who had worked as cleaners than among those who had not. The researchers estimated that a quarter of the asthma cases in their study could be attributed to domestic cleaning work.
Cases were highest in women who had given up being domestic cleaners. The researchers suggested that this may be because their chest conditions were bad enough to make them leave their jobs. With working women increasingly employing cleaners, and unknown numbers of people cleaning their own homes, the authors say their findings, published in the journal Thorax, may be very significant.
They say that cleaners are often exposed to a wide range of materials found in cleaning products, as well as to common allergens such as house dust mites and pet dander.
The survey was conducted among a random sample of 5,000 women from Barcelona, Spain, and its surroundings. Out of 4,521 women who completed the survey, 593 were working as cleaners and nearly 4 out of 10 had worked as cleaners at some time.
Dr Joseph Anto, from the Municipal Institute of Medical Research, Barcelona, and colleagues found that 12 per cent of domestic cleaners, current and former, had asthma and chronic bronchitis compared with only five per cent of women who had never been cleaners.
Women who worked as cleaners in hospitals and health clinics also had an increased risk. Those who cleaned in hotels, laboratories and kitchens had a slightly greater chance of having respiratory diseases but not significantly so. Women who cleaned offices had no increased risk.
"The high risk of asthma attributable to domestic cleaning suggests a substantial public health impact," Dr Anto says.
According to a study by the Work Foundation this summer, one in 10 women in Britain employs a cleaner.
Dr John Harvey, the chairman of the communications committee of the British Thoracic Society, says, "We have known for many years that certain occupations have an increased risk of developing lung conditions such as asthma and it is important that employers take the necessary steps to help protect their staff. It is also important that the general public are aware of the risks associated with inhaling certain chemicals including cleaning products and should see their GP if they develop breathlessness, cough or wheeze."
Daily Telegraph, 28th October, 2003
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Hi Colin
I remember this report. And at the same time it was also reported about increased lung cancer in barmaids... and anyone who spent a considerable amount of time in the pub. Not too up on them details though so I will leave it there.
🙂
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Take your point Andi,
And what if you get a barmaid that has to clean the pub afterwards[:-]
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Didn't even think of that and you know what, I have a friend who does both.. She already suffered with Asthma before this so where is her health going..? Not point in talking to her and trying to get her to quit though.. it falls on deaf ears. [&:]
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Hi Colin,
Yes, there are many allergies that are around these days, caused by being too clean. I believe it's because our bodies make 'antibodies' especially designed to combat things like plague, etc. Now we don't have so much of the plague these days, our antibodies are still on the lookout for foreign bodies to attack. We breathe in the cat dander, mites, dust, etc and hey presto! Our antibodies make histamine and other chemicals and 'go for it.'
It is better to live in a dirty house than a clean one, I think! I am allergic to pollens and cat fur. Achoo!
Love, Patsy.
xxxx
RE: Asthma links to clean living
That's about the size of it Patsy. 😉
It's called the hygiene hypothesis, although I think Colin is suggesting a new twist on this idea and suggesting that it's toxins in the cleaning products that cause the problems, rather than the cleanliness itself. [:o]
I'm gonna stick with the hygeine hypothesis myself & it saves on cleaning duties. [sm=rollaugh.gif]
Also fits better with the rapid increase with various other allergy & sensitivity related conditions. [:'(]
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Hi Anahata,
Well true you could just avoid cleaning ...... . and these chemicals are small trigger factors in one contact but they are proven to trigger the histamine reaction through conistant contact. And the article is about "cleaners chest" where the people work with these things and don't have the choice to avoid them.
[DLMURL] http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/media/cleaners_rm_030311.html [/DLMURL]
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Well you could just avoid cleaning & this may be a good idea if you lived in a mud hut or a draughty old building, but since the advent of carpets, central heating & double glazing it's got a bit more complicated.
Carpets in these conditions, if not regularly cleaned thoroughly, become are a reservoir for dust. Much of it being dead human or pet skin cells. This produces a wonderful breeding ground for a variety of beasties, especially dust mites. [:o]
These are a common allergen & especially to many that suffer with asthma, which is why many are better without carpet on their floors. 😉
Poor ventilation allows for the rise of toxic moulds such as pennicillium & aspergilus (spelling?).
Sensitivity / allergy to these can be life threatening. [:'(]
Andrew.
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Hi
My asthma is often induced by cleaning products - especially sprays such as Cif and other kitchen/bathroom cleaners. Also changing the beds sets me off.
I'm sure my husband thinks it's just an excuse not to do housework!!
Although I do use Neways personal care products such as Shampoo, Conditioner etc I find their household stuff less impressive. Ecovert products seem pretty good and are much cheaper.
Sweetheart x
RE: Asthma links to clean living
My asthma is linked to cat fur and pollen. It is a fallacy to say that being exposed to such allergens when young prevents them. We had cats since I was about two years old, and I always had chest and respiratory problems. It wasn't until I moved out and didn't have cats, that my condition improved. I have an inhaler now for the pollen season and because my asthma has flared up even more.
I have never had any allergic reaction to cleaning products, so perhaps there's certain types of asthma that are triggered by certain things?
Interesting!
love,
Patsy.
xxxxx
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Asthma & associated allergies is a very complex issue and I dare say that everyone is different, but they all seem to have a whole myriad of allergies. As well as the ones your aware of there are likely to be 'hidden' allergies & sensitivities.
I believe, however that NAET can clear these to the point of greatly improving the symptoms of asthma & may even clear it altogether, but it's not a quick fix & there are few more complicated to treat than those with asthma.
Suggest you check out the Allergy Forum, if not done already.
Andrew.
RE: Asthma links to clean living
Allergy to eggs has been shown to be positively associated with the later development of asthma.
Thread in General Health here -
Andrew.