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Occup Environ Med 2009;66:274-278 doi:10.1136/oem.2008.042382
  • Original article

Occupational exposures and asthma among nursing professionals

  1. A A Arif1,
  2. G L Delclos2,3,
  3. C Serra3
  1. 1
    Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
  2. 2
    Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA
  3. 3
    Occupational Health Research Unit, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Parc de Recerca Biomedica de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  1. Dr Ahmed A Arif, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, 9201 University City Blvd, CHHS Building 429, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; aarif{at}uncc.edu
  • Accepted 24 October 2008
  • Published Online First 22 January 2009

Abstract

Objectives: To identify occupational exposure risk factors associated with the development of new-onset asthma in nurses.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample of licensed Texas nurses (response rate 70%) and compared to three other healthcare professional groups. Nursing professionals were defined based on self-reported longest held job. Outcome variables were physician-diagnosed new-onset asthma after entry into the healthcare profession and symptoms associated with bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR). Occupational exposures were ascertained through a job-exposure matrix, grouped into four categories: cleaning-related tasks, use of powdered latex gloves, administration of aerosolised medications, and tasks involving adhesive compounds, glues and/or solvents.

Results: After adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, atopy, smoking, body mass index and seniority, reported asthma was significantly greater among nursing professionals involved in medical instrument cleaning (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.62) and exposure to general cleaning products and disinfectants (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.94). Use of powdered latex gloves during 1992–2000 was associated with 1.6 times (95% CI 1.01 to 2.50) the odds of reported asthma. In univariate analysis, exposure to adhesives, glues and/or solvents was associated with a twofold increase in the odds of reported asthma, but not after adjustment for covariates. Similarly, the odds of BHR-related symptoms were significantly greater among nursing professionals exposed to general cleaning products and disinfectants (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.21) and adhesives, glues and/or solvents used in patient care (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.12).

Conclusion: Among nursing professionals, workplace exposures to cleaning products and disinfectants increase the risk of new-onset asthma.

Footnotes

  • Funding: This study was supported, in part, by grants 5R01OH03945–01A1 and T42CCT610417 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • Competing interests: None.

  • G L Delclos and C Serra are members of CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP).

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