Cleaning products have become an indispensable part of
our modern lives. They are used on a daily basis in nearly
all workplaces and homes. In recent years, cleaning has
been identified as an occupational risk, because of an
increased incidence of asthma and asthma-like symptoms
among cleaning workers [1-7]. Adverse effects on skin,
such as occupational hand dermatitis, have also been
reported by few studies of hospital cleaning workers [8,9].
Results from epidemiological investigations support the
hypothesis that exposure to cleaning products is related to
the development and/or exacerbation of respiratory
symptoms, including asthma [10-17]. The design of existing
epidemiologic studies on cleaning has not allowed
identification of agents responsible for asthma and other
reported respiratory symptoms. This is related directly to
the incomplete exposure assessment strategies carried out
in these studies. Due to the lack of systematic occupational
hygiene analyses and workplace exposure data,
there is a need for systematic evaluation of cleaning products
ingredients and their exposures in the workplace.