ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Household cleaning products are widely used by the public, but limited data have been obtained on whether their use induces allergic dermatitis in children. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between exposure to household cleaning products and allergic dermatitis in primary-school children. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of Hong Kong primary-school children was conducted between 2012 and 2014. A baseline survey was administered to 1812 students who did not have allergic dermatitis. Information on respiratory symptoms, exposure to household chemical cleaning products and other topics was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A cumulative chemical burden (CCB) score was calculated for each student by summing the duration of exposure to 14 chemical cleaning products. Principal component analysis was used to identify patterns in the use of these cleaning products. Logistic regression was performed to calculate relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (4.9%) of the students surveyed had dermatitis during the follow-up. However, exposure to individual chemical cleaning products was not found to be associated with the children's allergic dermatitis (all P > 0.05). In contrast to those in the lowest tertile, neither CCB scores in the middle tertile (RR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.67 to 2.00) nor those in the highest tertile (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.73 to 2.14) were significantly associated with the risk of allergic dermatitis. The adjusted RR for every 5-unit increment in CCB score was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.98 to 1.03). Four patterns of cleaning-product use were derived, but none were found to be associated with the risk of dermatitis (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of household chemical cleaning products is not associated with the risk of dermatitis in primary-school children.
Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Detergents/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure , Child , Female , Hong Kong , Humans , Logistic Models , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Principal Component Analysis , Prospective Studies , Risk Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the physical characteristics and the bactericidal and sporicidal potential of a polymer-encapsulated ClO(2) coating. METHODS AND RESULTS: An antimicrobial coating based on polymer-encapsulated ClO(2) was developed. A low viscosity, water/oil/water double emulsion coating was formulated for easy on-site application. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus were applied onto the coating to study the bactericidal capabilities of the coating. The bactericidal performance of the coating increased when the contact time with the tested bacteria increased. Over 99% of the E. coli, Ps. aeruginosa, B. subtilis were killed with a contact time of 30 min. Although endospores of B. subtilis are more resistant, about 75% of the spores were killed after 72 h on the coating. Moreover, a sustained release of gaseous ClO(2) was achieved to maintain about 90% removal of B. subtilis with a 10-min contact time during a 28-day study period. The coating also exhibits antiadhesive properties against bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: A polymer-encapsulated ClO(2) coating with sustained release of ClO(2) and promising bactericidal and sporicidal features was tested for 28 days. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides a new direction for developing polymer-encapsulated ClO(2) coatings that possess persistent bactericidal and sporicidal properties.
