Job hazards and respiratory symptoms in Hispanic female domestic cleaners

Abstract

The occupational hazards and respiratory symptoms of domestic cleaners in USA are largely unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 56 Hispanic female domestic cleaner on their health status and frequency of cleaning products used and tasks performed. While women used multi-use products (60.0%) and toilet bowl cleaners (51.8%) most days of the week, many (39.3%) reported not using personal protective equipment while cleaning. Itchy/watery eyes (61.8%) and itchy nose (56.4%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. A history of physician-diagnosed asthma was reported by 14.3% while 33.9% had symptoms of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). In conclusion, this vulnerable population has high prevalence of physician-diagnosis asthma and BHR symptoms and is potentially exposed to myriad occupational hazards. Further research exploring associations between products use, cleaning tasks and respiratory symptoms is warranted.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• domestic cleaners
• Hispanic
• occupational health
• vulnerable workers

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Domésticas Unidas, especially Ms. Araceli Herrera and Ms. Irasema Cavazos, for their cooperation and support. We also thanks all study participants for their time and effort.

The study protocol was approved by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects. Survey completion implied consent in which all participants were verbally informed of their ability to withhold responses, terminate participation, and provided staff contact information should they have any questions or concerns about the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Education and Research Center Grant [5T42OH008421] to the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SWCOEH) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health.