# Prevalence of Health Effects Due to Disinfectant Exposure and Its Impact on Selected Physiological Parameters Among Class D Workers: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study found that many hospital cleaning workers in Sangli, India, experience health issues like throat and skin irritation from disinfectant exposure.

## Contribution

The study provides new prevalence data on health effects of disinfectant exposure among class D hospital workers in a specific regional context.

## Key findings

- Over 40% of workers reported throat irritation, cough, and eye irritation from disinfectants.
- More than half of the workers experienced skin and nasal issues due to disinfectant exposure.
- Nausea was reported by nearly half of the workers exposed to bleach and choline solutions.

## Abstract

Background: Cleaning and disinfection, particularly to reduce the risk of infection, constitute a significant portion of the work performed by medical personnel and other staff in hospital environments. In addition to the routine housekeeping tasks carried out by cleaning staff, these duties may involve medical specialists such as radiographers, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, and class D workers responsible for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment. Various chemicals can be used for these tasks, including hydrogen peroxide, bleach, chlorine, and bacillocid. This study focused on estimating the prevalence of health effects of disinfectant exposure on physiological parameters among class D workers in selected hospitals in Sangli, Maharashtra.

Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using a quantitative descriptive approach between April 2024 and July 2024. A total of 270 participants were selected through a non-probability purposive sampling technique from the chosen hospitals, ensuring adherence to all ethical considerations. Data were collected using a disinfectant health effects on physiological parameters assessment checklist and a demographic information sheet for participants. After providing comprehensive details about the study, informed consent was obtained from all participants. The analysis was conducted using frequency and percentage distributions.

Results: Out of 270 class D workers, the survey found that 45.56% (123) of the participants reported having a sore nose due to hydrogen peroxide disinfectant exposure, 42.59% (115) reported throat irritation from glutaraldehyde disinfectant exposure, 40% (108) reported a persistent cough from sodium hypochlorite exposure, 37.4% (101) reported headaches from isopropyl alcohol disinfectant exposure, and 45.92% (124) reported eye irritation from benzalkonium chloride disinfectant exposure. Additionally, 59.62% (161) experienced skin irritation due to exposure to orthophthalaldehyde, and 58.15% (157) experienced nasal issues due to the bacillocid solution. Furthermore, 29.26% (79) experienced throat irritation from exposure to hypochlorite disinfectants, 44.05% (119) experienced nausea due to choline exposure, and 50.74% (137) experienced nausea from bleach solution exposure for more than six hours during their previous five years of employment.

Conclusions: The study concluded that most class D workers in Sangli hospitals experienced physical health effects, including irritation of the throat, nose, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin, as well as nausea. Identifying optimal practices to minimize worker exposure while ensuring patient safety is crucial. Based on the present study’s findings, hospital managers should develop safety resources, conduct educational campaigns, and provide class D employees with the necessary training to manage disinfectant exposure effectively.