The Potential Link Between Disinfectants and COPD
Disinfectants are vital to keeping a clean home, especially in the time of a pandemic. But they have a startling downside. For all that they help us to keep surfaces clean and everyone in the household safe, they may be doing damage to our lungs. Disinfectants can contain compounds that irritate and damage them, leading to asthma and even COPD. Women are more susceptible than men, and those who use cleaners in their professions are even more likely to suffer damage — damage which in some cases may be equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 to 20 years.
The Harmful Effects of Disinfectants
A clean house is important, but a clean-smelling house could be fumigating the inhabitants. The American Lung Association warns that most household cleaners contain chemicals that can damage lungs and may worsen asthma and other lung diseases — which of course we may not see or realize for years. But these chemicals, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can also cause headaches and allergic reactions in the more immediate sense.
VOCs are in numerous cleaning products, including:
- Chlorine bleach
- Detergents
- Dishwashing soap
- Oven cleaners
- Carpet/upholstery cleaner
- Furniture polish
- Aerosol cleaners
Using any of these products in a poorly ventilated room or exposing lungs regularly to VOCs may worsen their effects. Of course, we must always make sure to follow package instructions and never mix bleach with any other type of cleaner — the combination could produce damaging, even potentially deadly, fumes. But even on the average day when we're doing everything right, we should be sure to create good ventilation when cleaning.
Women, VOCs and Lung Disease
Notably, women seem to be more susceptible to these problems. A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found women who clean for a living or do a lot of housework have significantly reduced lung capacities.
They found women who didn’t clean at home or at work had a 9.6% asthma rate. While women who did a lot of cleaning at home had a 12.3% asthma rate, and those who cleaned at work had a rate of 13.7%. This is likely due to chronic irritation from VOCs causing slow but severe changes in the airways. This damage, which compares to smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 10 to 20 years, can persist for decades.
Another study, recently published in JAMA Network Open, found female nurses were 25% to 38% more likely to develop COPD. The study followed 116,429 registered nurses from 2009 to 2015, analyzing questionnaires the participants filled out every two years. The most common cleaner the nurses came into contact with was alcohol, followed by quaternary ammonium compounds, hydrogen peroxide and hypochlorite bleach. Of those chemicals, bleach and hydrogen peroxide were most likely to contribute to COPD development.
Cleaners and Household Safety
Be a minimalist when you can. The American Lung Association recommends scrubbing items and surfaces with soap and water whenever possible — remember these are just as effective at removing viruses from surfaces. Baking soda may also be helpful. Use vinegar and water to clean glass. Healthline recommends cleaning with methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) or lemon juice mostly for cutting grease.
The EPA has a list of “safer” approved commercial cleaners that are also effective. It's possible to do a product search to see if your preferred brand is on there. You can also look to see if the EPA’s “Safer Choice” image is on the product’s label. Keep in mind, however, that just because a disinfectant is “green,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s actually safe for use every day. Use all cleaners with caution and adequate ventilation.
We don’t need to sacrifice our lungs to have a clean home. And knowing now what they do, we should probably avoid harsh cleaners whenever we can, opting for safer alternatives when they’re available. If you come into contact with disinfectants as part of a job, talk to the boss to see what can be done to reduce exposure. Cleanliness is important, but so is our health.
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