Association of Occupational Exposure to Disinfectants With Incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among US Female Nurses

[2greys]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of mortality worldwide and among the diseases contributing the most to disability-adjusted life-years.1 Although tobacco smoke remains the major risk factor for COPD development in the United States and other industrialized countries, occupational exposures contribute substantially to the burden of disease.2 A growing body of data suggests that 15% to 20% of cases of COPD are attributable to occupational exposures.

jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

[2greys]

At last, slowly and surely the stigma of COPD is slowly being lifted, I am sure that those percentages will rise even further as more research is done into environmental issues is done and findings become clearer that smoking may be a contributing factor rather than the sole reason.

It is already well known that welders who smoke have an increased risk of developing COPD, but even non smoking welders can go on to develop COPD.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to 2greys]

Thank goodness for at last a bit of understanding and people seeing beyond prejudice. That although a person may have smoked, that may not be the cause of their lung condition, or may be one contributing factor among others. Like living in a house for 30 years with wood heating and wood cooking. Ah yes but did you smoke?

🤨

[Jaybird19 in reply to 2greys]

I agree about disinfectants,. I worked all my life in medical laboratory using chloros and phenolic disinfectants. Large open containers for discards at each work station. All work benches swabbed down with disinfectants before finishing every day. We were very aware of contamination causing us potential disease and strict about that.

But never the hazard of breathing in these fumes.

Even a phenolic based stain for microscopic slides that had to be heated to fuming in the open . An extractor hood for making the slides , heated to sterilise in hood but nothing for the fumes produced in heating the stain that demonstrated the organisms present on the slides. This in a room with closed door and windows .That was 20 yrs ago . Now that room is air conditioned but not filtered to outside?. (Like legionella in the environment goes to outside relying on dilution?)

Occupational health became involved but as I was told not to work in there someone else had to do it.

Only recently has chemical damage become to be considered.

Cleaners are also at risk of this ., especially hospital cleaners. But cleaning fluids are commonly used in the home, and in spray bottles too. Ready to inhale while you clean. No warnings of this. I warn people but i do not hsve any effect. More frightened of bugs. Advertising bout bugs in home increases unrational fear. And sells more disinfectants

Now i find that i am sensitive to perfumes ( chemicals again) and i am overwhelmed when next door open their windows and i get their house perfumes and cigarette smoke in my window. Their washing machine pumps out more and again affects the air coming in my windows, so I cannot breathe again.

And i never smoked. Just chemicals.

Sorry to get on my hobby horse

[2greys in reply to Jaybird19]

I have to be in agreement with you. Another very real hazard is the mixing of cleaners, whether deliberate or accidental, which can react together producing dangerous fumes. Here are just some:

thoughtco.com/common-househ...