Exposure to bleach increases risk for respiratory infections
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Exposure to cleaning bleach at home or at school may increase children’s risk for respiratory and other infections, according to study findings in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Lidia Casas, PhD, of the Centre for Environment and Health at KU Leuven in Belgium, and colleagues investigated the relationship between bleach use at home and frequency of infection among 9,102 school-aged children attending Spanish, Dutch and Finnish schools. Parents of study participants were asked to complete questionnaires on respiratory health and bleach use at home. Weekly use of bleach at schools was also determined.
Bleach use was most common in Spain (72%) and least common in Finland (7%). All Spanish schools were cleaned with bleach while Finnish schools were not, according to researchers.
Overall, singular and recurrent infections were the most common in Spanish students (P < .05), though influenza infections were the most common in the Netherlands (11% recurrent, 36% singular).
Infection rates were highest among children exposed to bleach compared with children who were not exposed.
- In the Netherlands, risk for one influenza episode was higher among children exposed to bleach (RRR = 1.27, 95% CI, 1.06-1.54) vs. those unexposed to bleach.
- In Finland, bleach exposure was associated with recurrent tonsillitis (RRR = 2.41; 95% CI, 1.25-4.66) and sinusitis (RRR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.19-4).
- In Spain, children exposed to bleach had a higher risk for any recurrent infection vs. children unexposed to bleach (RRR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1-1.63).
Risk for pneumonia was not significantly associated with bleach exposure in any country.
Analysis that included the use of bleach at school did not change risk rates, however, bleach use for school cleaning in the Netherlands was associated with a higher risk for any recurrent infection (RRR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.01-2.62).
“In line with previous studies, our study suggests that passive exposure to cleaning bleach in the home may have adverse effects on school-age children’s health. However, the evidence is inconsistent across countries, the health effects are rather modest, and the exposure and health assessment and cross-sectional design are a limitation, not only in our study but previous studies,” Casas and colleagues concluded. – by Amanda Oldt
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.