FIVE distinct long-term exposure profiles for the use of disinfectants and cleaning products (DCPs) and their potential association with asthma has been identified in new research. The study followed 1,143 young adults from the German centers of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) over two decades to analyze patterns of exposure and their link to respiratory health.
Researchers used latent class analysis (LCA) to group participants based on their weekly use of cleaning sprays, disinfectant sprays, and other disinfection methods between the ages of 19–24 and 29–34. Five exposure profiles emerged: no weekly use (55%), use only in the first assessment (7%), use only in the second assessment (18%), persistent use (8%), and persistent cleaning spray use (12%).
Compared to participants with no weekly use of DCPs, those in the “persistent use” group showed an increased likelihood of current asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.68) and current wheeze (OR = 1.71). The study found that short-term or intermittent exposure to DCPs did not appear to have the same association with asthma risk.
The researchers note that while persistent use of multiple cleaning products over time was linked to higher odds of asthma symptoms, the wide confidence intervals in the results indicate a need for cautious interpretation.
This study highlights the complexity of analyzing exposure to multiple cleaning products over time and its potential impact on respiratory health. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to understand the long-term health implications of regular disinfectant use.
Reference: Da Silva EP et al. Exposure Profiles for the Long-Term Use of Disinfectants and Cleaning Products and Asthma. Allergy. 2025. doi: 10.1111/all.16456.
