322 Quantitative assessment of US home care aides’ respiratory exposures during residential bathroom cleaning and disinfecting using household products

Introduction In the USA, home care (HC) aide visits to clients’ homes typically involve cleaning and disinfecting (C&D). Some ingredients in household C&D products are associated with respiratory illness: sodium hypochlorite (bleach), quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study assessed quantitatively HC aides’ airborne exposures during bathroom cleaning using conventional and “green” C&D products. Methodology Aides performed C&D tasks in a simulated residential bathroom constructed in an environmental air sampling laboratory. Breathing zone samples were collected according to a balanced experimental design; each aide performed two 20-minute cleaning sessions using one of three C&D spray products (bleach-based, 1-5% sodium hypochlorite by weight; QACs-based, 0.1 – 1%; and “green,” 0.5% thymol). Results We completed 169 air sampling sessions with 22 aides. VOCs were generated by all products: QACs-based mean total VOCs (TVOC) concentration was 1,210 ppb; bleach-based mean TVOC 593 ppb; and green TVOC 498 ppb. Seven VOCs were quantified above the limit of detection in 50% or more of whole air canister samples: acetaldehyde, acetone, chloroform, d-limonene, alpha-pinene, ethanol, isopropanol. Only the QACs-based product generated QACs: Benzalkonium chloride (BAC)12 (6975 ng/m3), BAC14 (2971 ng/m3), BAC16 (782 ng/m3); the 3 QACs combined (10857 ng/m3). When using the bleach-based product, 13 aides (65%) experienced peak chlorine exposures above the US OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit ceiling limit (1 ppm). Conclusions During typical bathroom cleaning with household C&D products, HC aides can generate airborne exposures that present respiratory health risks. Use of a spray bleach product can produce over-exposure to chlorine.