Table 3.
Prevalence of Workplace Exposures and Tasks in Current Job a by Current Asthma and Wheeze.
All participants N (%) n = 347 | Participants with current asthma N (%) n = 61 | Participants with wheeze N (%) n = 123 | |
---|---|---|---|
Sterilize or disinfect medical instruments | 18 (5.2) | 5 (8.2) | 8 (6.5) |
Clean or disinfect equipment, environmental, or fixed surfaces | 177 (51.0) | 38 (62.3) | 75 (61.0) |
Use chemicals in laboratory or patient/chemical preparation areas | 18 (5.2) | 2 (3.3) | 6 (4.9) |
Use chemicals, adhesives, antiseptics, alcohols, or solvents on patients | 111 (32.0) | 25 (41.0) | 54 (43.9) |
Administer aerosolized medications to patients | 37 (10.7) | 10 (16.4) | 16 (13.0) |
Mold, dampness, construction material exposure (any) | 247 (71.2) | 49 (80.3) | 93 (75.6) |
Water damage | 170 (49.0) | 33 (54.1) | 70 (56.9) |
Condensation | 73 (21.0) | 16 (26.2) | 37 (30.1) |
Wet carpet | 74 (21.3) | 11 (18.0) | 37 (30.1) |
Mold growth | 32 (9.2) | 7 (11.5) | 13 (10.6) |
Mold, mildew, musty odor | 74 (21.3) | 16 (26.2) | 35 (28.5) |
Renovation or construction | 189 (54.5) | 40 (65.6) | 74 (60.2) |
Painting | 174 (50.1) | 37 (60.7) | 65 (52.9) |
Removing/replacing interior materials | 147 (42.4) | 35 (57.4) | 65 (52.9) |
Cleaning and disinfecting products (any) | 171 (49.3) | 37 (60.7) | 72 (58.5) |
Alcohol | 111 (32.0) | 22 (36.1) | 47 (38.2) |
Bleach | 77 (22.2) | 14 (23.0) | 38 (30.9) |
Glass cleaner | 29 (8.4) | 8 (13.1) | 16 (13.0) |
Detergent | 51 (14.7) | 39 (13.6) | 26 (21.1) |
Quaternary ammonium compounds | 111 (32.0) | 19 (31.2) | 45 (36.6) |
Other chemicals b | 52 (15.0) | 6 (9.8) | 21 (17.1) |
Cleaning or disinfecting tasks (any) | 168 (48.4) | 36 (59.0) | 72 (58.5) |
Clean equipment and environmental surfaces | 159 (45.8) | 36 (59.0) | 69 (56.1) |
Clean spills or blood | 93 (26.8) | 17 (27.9) | 43 (35.0) |
Clean bathroom | 16 (4.6) | 3 (4.9) | 9 (7.3) |
Spraying products | 40 (11.5) | 7 (11.5) | 19 (15.5) |
Floor cleaning and maintenance | 40 (11.5) | 12 (19.7) | 25 (20.3) |
Other tasks | 21 (6.1) | 4 (6.6) | 13 (10.6) |
Workplace exposures or tasks are reported for current job. Dampness and mold, construction material exposure are reported for the two year period prior to the survey.
Other chemicals include formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, acid, ammonia, phenolics, floor wax stripper, ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthalaldehydes, peracetic acid, and enzymatic cleaners.