TABLE III.
Selection of Observed Asthmagens in Products Used by Participants and the Corresponding Usage in the Healthcare Setting
| Asthmagens | Chemical group | In products used by |
|---|---|---|
| Methacrylatesa | Acrylate | Dental and clinical laboratory technicians during laboratory procedures; dental assistants when performing procedures on patients |
| Acrylatesb | Acrylate | Dental laboratory technicians during laboratory procedures |
| Quaternary ammonium compoundsc | Quats | Dental assistants and laboratory technicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, endoscopy technicians, medical equipment preparers, floor strippers /waxers, and housekeepers for general cleaning of surfaces, furniture, and equipment |
| Ethanolaminesd | Amine | Certified nursing assistants, endoscopy technicians, medical equipment preparers, for instrument cleaning; floor strippers/waxers and housekeepers for general cleaning of surface, furniture, and equipment |
| Acidse | Carboxylic acid Acid oxidizer | Registered and licensed practical nurses when working in dialysis units; registered and licensed practical nurses, dental assistants, endoscopy technicians, and medical equipment preparers for cleaning, sterilizing, and high-level disinfecting medical instruments |
| Aluminum oxide | Metal | Dental laboratory technicians during laboratory procedures |
| Ammonium hydroxide | Base | Housekeepers for general cleaning of surfaces |
| Ethylene oxide | Ether | Medical equipment prepares when sterilizing and high-level disinfecting medical instruments |
| Eugenol | Other | Dental assistants when performing procedures on patients |
| Formaldehyde | Aldehyde | Clinical laboratory technicians during laboratory procedures |
| Ortho-phthalaldehydef | Aldehyde | Licensed practical nurses and endoscopy technicians for cleaning, sterilizing, and high-level disinfecting medical instruments |
| Subtilisin | Enzyme | Licensed practical nurses, endoscopy technicians and medical equipment preparers for cleaning instruments |
| Sodium hypochzlorite | Oxidizer | Registered and licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, clinical laboratory technicians, and housekeepers for general surface cleaning |
| Ammonia | Ammonia | Floor strippers/waxers for stripping and finishing floors |
Note: Classification as asthmagen based on Asthma in the Workplace 3rd Edition [Bernstein et al., 2006] and the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics Exposure Code Lookup webpage [AOEC, 2012] unless otherwise noted. Product usage based on field observations during data collection and information from manufacturers and material safety data sheets.
Includes 2-(acetoacetoxy) ethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, poly methyl methacrylate.
Includes ethyl cyanoacrylate, ethyl-2 cyanoacrylate.
Includes alkyl (60% C14, 30% C16, 5% C12, 5% C18) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, alkyl (68% C12, 32% C14) dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, benzyl-C12-16 alkyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, N-alkyl (C14 50%, C12 40%, C16 10%) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, octyldecyldimethylammonium chloride, quaternary ammonium chloride.
Includes monoethanolamine, triethanolamine.
Includes acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid.
Classification as a sensitizer based on evidence from other literature [Anderson et al., 2010].