Hazardous substances in frequently used professional cleaning products

Details

Ressource 1Download: BIB_7DB31603B2FB.P001.pdf (659.39 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: Author's accepted manuscript
Serval ID
serval:BIB_7DB31603B2FB
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Hazardous substances in frequently used professional cleaning products
Journal
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health
Author(s)
Gerster Fabian M., Vernez David, Wild Pascal P., Hopf Nancy B.
ISSN
1077-3525 (Print)
ISSN-L
1077-3525
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2014
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
20
Number
1
Pages
46-60
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
A growing number of studies have identified cleaners as a group at risk for adverse health effects of the skin and the respiratory tract. Chemical substances present in cleaning products could be responsible for these effects. Currently, only limited information is available about irritant and health hazardous chemical substances found in cleaning products. We hypothesized that chemical substances present in cleaning products are known health hazardous substances that might be involved in adverse health effects of the skin and the respiratory tract.
We performed a systematic review of cleaning products used in the Swiss cleaning sector. We surveyed Swiss professional cleaning companies (n = 1476) to identify the most used products (n = 105) for inclusion. Safety data sheets (SDSs) were reviewed and hazardous substances present in cleaning products were tabulated with current European and global harmonized system hazard labels.
Professional cleaning products are mixtures of substances (arithmetic mean 3.5 +/- 2.8), and more than 132 different chemical substances were identified in 105 products. The main groups of chemicals were fragrances, glycol ethers, surfactants, solvents; and to a lesser extent, phosphates, salts, detergents, pH-stabilizers, acids, and bases. Up to 75% of products contained irritant (Xi), 64% harmful (Xn) and 28% corrosive (C) labeled substances. Hazards for eyes (59%) and skin (50%), and hazards by ingestion (60%) were the most reported.
Cleaning products potentially give rise to simultaneous exposures to different chemical substances. As professional cleaners represent a large workforce, and cleaning products are widely used, it is a major public health issue to better understand these exposures. The list of substances provided in this study contains important information for future occupational exposure assessment studies.

Keywords
Caustics/analysis, Detergents/analysis, Hazardous Substances/analysis, Household Products/analysis, Housekeeping, Humans, Occupational Exposure, Risk Assessment, Switzerland
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2014 12:12
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:38
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