Used as household cleaner, bleach has stain removal, whitening and disinfecting properties. Problem: This type of product would also increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammation of bronchi which causes difficulty in breathing. In any case, this is what reveals a study conducted by Harvard University and the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm), presented at the international congress of the European Society of Pneumology.
A risk of COPD increased by 24 to 32%
For the purposes of this research, the scientists analyzed the data of a study launched in 1989 on 55,000 American nurses, because the medical personnel are regularly brought to use disinfectants in the professional framework. In 2009, they re-examined nurses still in service who did not have a history of BCPO and found that 663 of them had this disease. At the end of their study, the researchers found that nurses who used bleach or other disinfectant products at least once a week had a 22% increased risk of developing this condition.
Scientists are also interested in exposure to specific disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or even quats. They found that these products increased the risk of COPD by 24 to 32%. “Our results provide further evidence on the effects of exposure to disinfectants on respiratory problems. They highlight the urgency of integrating occupational health risks into recommendations for cleaning and disinfection in the environment. hospitable “, concludes Orianne Dumas, Inserm researcher.
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