Household Cleaning Effect on Women's Health: A Potentially Important Public Health Concern
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15218/crewh.2024.01Keywords:
Cleaning products, Epidemiology, Human health, Public awareness, ToxicologyAbstract
Background and Objective: Household cleaning products are widely used to maintain hygiene and sanitation; however, their frequent use has been linked to various health risks. Women, particularly those who are married, aged 18–32, and hold a BSc degree, have been identified as a demographic with higher exposure rates to these products. The chemicals present in household cleaners may contribute to respiratory issues, skin conditions, and other adverse health effects. This study aimed to investigate the health implications associated with household cleaner use among women. The findings are expected to inform public health initiatives, enhance consumer education, and support policy measures to promote safer household cleaning practices and reduce health risks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 400 women to assess the health effects associated with the use of household cleaning products. Data collection focused on self-reported symptoms and their correlation with specific household cleaners. Participants' demographic characteristics, including marital status, age, and educational background, were considered to identify high-risk groups. The study analyzed common health symptoms such as headaches, respiratory issues, and dermatological reactions. Statistical methods were employed to determine significant correlations between cleaner usage and health outcomes. Results: The study findings revealed a significant association between household cleaner use and various adverse health effects. Among the reported symptoms, 66% of participants experienced coughing, 63.5% reported irritation and redness of the eyes or throat, and 57.8% suffered from shortness of breath. Additionally, 53% of women experienced headaches, while 58% reported vertigo. Loss of smell was observed in 48.8% of participants, and 56.5% reported allergies and eczema. Notably, hand dishwashing cleaner did not show a significant link to shortness of breath, while bathroom cleaner exhibited a potential but non-significant correlation with eye and throat irritation. Conclusion: This study highlights the health risks associated with the frequent use of household cleaning products among women, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and consumer education. The findings suggest that increased awareness and proper usage guidelines can mitigate adverse health effects. Policymakers should consider implementing stricter regulations on hazardous chemicals in household cleaners to protect consumer health. Future research should explore long-term exposure effects and assess the effectiveness of alternative, less harmful cleaning solutions.
References
Archangelidi O, Sathiyajit S, Consonni D, Jarvis D, De Matteis S. Cleaning products and respiratory health outcomes in occupational cleaners: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2021;78(8):604-617. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-107254.
Bably M, Arif AA, Post A. Prenatal use of cleaning and scented products and its association with childhood asthma, asthma symptoms, and mental health and developmental comorbidities. Journal of Asthma. 2021;58(1):46-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/02770903.2019.1656229.
Becker AB, Abrams EM. Asthma guidelines: the Global Initiative for Asthma in relation to national guidelines. Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology. 2017;17(2):99-103.DOI: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000346.
Becker AB, Abrams EM. Asthma guidelines: the Global Initiative for Asthma in relation to national guidelines. Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology. 2017;17(2):99-103. doi:DOI: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000346
Bukalasa JS, Brunekreef B, Koppelman GH, Vonk JM, Gehring U. Use of cleaning agents at home and respiratory and allergic symptoms in adolescents: The PIAMA birth cohort study. Environment international. 2019;128:63-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.049.
Clausen PA, Frederiksen M, Sejbæk CS, et al. Chemicals inhaled from spray cleaning and disinfection products and their respiratory effects. A comprehensive review. International journal of hygiene and environmental health. 2020;229:113592. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113592.
Dalton P. Upper airway irritation, odor perception and health risk due to airborne chemicals. Toxicology letters. 2003;140:239-248. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4274(02)00510-6
De Matteis S, Ronsmans S, Nemery B. Respiratory health effects of exposure to cleaning products. Clinics in chest medicine. 2020;41(4):641-650.DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2020.08.010.
Diamant Z, Sidharta P, Singh D, et al. Setipiprant, a selective CRTH 2 antagonist, reduces allergen‐induced airway responses in allergic asthmatics. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 2014;44(8):1044-1052. doi:DOI: 10.1111/cea.12357
Dumas O, Bédard A, Marbac M, et al. Household cleaning and poor asthma control among elderly women. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2021;9(6):2358-2365. e4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2021.02.022.
Evans GW, Kantrowitz E. Socioeconomic status and health: the potential role of environmental risk exposure. Annual review of public health. 2002;23(1):303-331. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.23.112001.112349.
Harley KG, Calderon L, Nolan JE, et al. Changes in Latina women’s exposure to cleaning chemicals associated with switching from conventional to “green” household cleaning products: the LUCIR intervention study. Environmental health perspectives. 2021;129(9):097001.DOI: 10.1289/EHP7270.
Hong S, Kwon H-J, Choi W-J, Lim WR, Kim J, Kim K. Association between exposure to antimicrobial household products and allergic symptoms. Environmental health and toxicology. 2014;29: doi: 10.5620/eht.e2014017
Jenkins AL. " Hairless, odourless, bleached, and clean": Exploring Women's Experiences of the Vagina in Connection with Vaginal Cleansing Products. University of Guelph; 2019.
Kádár E, Santos RS, Powell JJ. Biological factors influencing tissue compartmentalization of trace metals in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent bivalve Bathymodiolus azoricus at geochemically distinct vent sites of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Environmental research. 2006;101(2):221-229. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2005.08.010.
Kraft P, Kraft B. Explaining socioeconomic disparities in health behaviours: A review of biopsychological pathways involving stress and inflammation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2021;127:689-708.
Le Moual N, Dumas O, Bonnet P, et al. Exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products and respiratory health of workers and children in daycares: the CRESPI cohort protocol. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(10):5903. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105903.
Le Moual N, Dumas O, Bonnet P, et al. Exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products and respiratory health of workers and children in daycares: the CRESPI cohort protocol. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(10):5903.DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20105903.
Lemire P, Dumas O, Chanoine S, et al. Domestic exposure to irritant cleaning agents and asthma in women. Environment International. 2020;144:106017. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106017
Leung M-W, O’Donoghue M, Suen LK-P. Personal and household hygiene measures for preventing upper respiratory tract infections among children: a cross-sectional survey of parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;20(1):229. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010229
Lipińska-Ojrzanowska A, Wiszniewska M, Świerczyńska-Machura D, et al. Work-related respiratory symptoms among health centres cleaners: a cross-sectional study. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 2014;27:460-466.
Liu X, Lao XQ, Wong CC-Y, et al. Frequent use of household cleaning products is associated with rhinitis in Chinese children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2016;138(3):754-760. e6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.02.003.
Magnusson LL, Wennborg H, Bonde JP, Olsen J. Wheezing, asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema in relation to maternal occupations in pregnancy. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2006;63(9):640-646. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2005.024422
Mostafa H, Rizk J, Kanaan E, et al. Consumer knowledge and awareness of the toxicity and handling of household products at a tertiary care center in Beirut, Lebanon. Toxicology and industrial health. 2022;38(7):408-416. DOI: 10.1177/07482337221104193.
Parks J, McCandless L, Dharma C, et al. Association of use of cleaning products with respiratory health in a Canadian birth cohort. Cmaj. 2020;192(7):E154-E161. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.190842.
Sabharwal J. Health issues and environmental impact of cleaning agents. International Journal of Novel Research in Life Sciences. 2015;2(2):31-38.
Sieberg CB, Lebel A, Silliman E, Holmes S, Borsook D, Elman I. Left to themselves: Time to target chronic pain in childhood rare diseases. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2021;126:276-288. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.008.
Sienkiewicz P, Bielawski K, Bielawska A, Pałka J. Inhibition of collagen and DNA biosynthesis by a novel amidine analogue of chlorambucil is accompanied by deregulation of β1-integrin and IGF-I receptor signaling in MDA-MB 231 cells. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2005;20(1):118-124. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2004.11.001.
Siracusa A, De Blay F, Folletti I, et al. Asthma and exposure to cleaning products–a E uropean A cademy of A llergy and C linical I mmunology task force consensus statement. Allergy. 2013;68(12):1532-1545. DOI: 10.1111/all.12279.
Smeets MA, Dalton PH. Evaluating the human response to chemicals: odor, irritation and non-sensory factors. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2005;19(3):581-588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2004.12.023.
Temkin AM, Geller SL, Swanson SA, Leiba NS, Naidenko OV, Andrews DQ. Volatile organic compounds emitted by conventional and “green” cleaning products in the us market. Chemosphere. 2023;341:139570. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139570.
Thébaud S, Kornrich S, Ruppanner L. Good housekeeping, great expectations: Gender and housework norms. Sociological Methods & Research. 2021;50(3):1186-1214. DOI: 10.1177/0049124118820294.
Thompson ME, Fong GT, Boudreau C, et al. Methods of the ITC four country smoking and Vaping survey, wave 1 (2016). Addiction. 2019;114:6-14. DOI: 10.1111/add.14528.
Willetts J, Halcrow G, Carrard N, Rowland C, Crawford J. Addressing two critical MDGs together: gender in water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives. Pacific Economic Bulletin. 2010:DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.2125565.
Wolkoff P, Nielsen GD. Effects by inhalation of abundant fragrances in indoor air–An overview. Environment international. 2017;101:96-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.013.
Wolkoff P, Schneider T, Kildesø J, Degerth R, Jaroszewski M, Schunk H. Risk in cleaning: chemical and physical exposure. Science of the total environment. 1998;215(1-2):135-156. doi:DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(98)00211-1
Zock JP. Cleaning and other household products. Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases. 2010:55-68.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sangar Ahmed, Muzhda Qader
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
