Hospitals can reduce asthma risk by switching to safer alternatives

Unbeknownst to many health care providers, the indoor hospital environment may be making people sick. A new report reveals that substances commonly found in hospitals – including chemicals used to clean floors and medical equipment, fumes from building materials, latex gloves, and other common substances – can trigger an asthma attack or cause the disease.

The first-of-its-kind report, released today by Health Care Without Harm, presents rigorously researched information about asthma triggers and asthmagens found in health care settings, and shows how to reduce problematic exposures.

“As places of healing, hospitals have a responsibility to protect patients and workers from harmful chemicals and practices. The good news is that safer alternatives are available. We urge hospitals to take immediate action to clean up the indoor environment,” said Anna Gilmore Hall, RN, executive director of HCWH.

Key findings in the report include:

• The current state of the evidence indicates considerable cause for concern that substances commonly used and found in health care can cause or trigger asthma.
• Top hazards of concern include latex and biological allergens; disinfectants, sterilants and cleaners; and formaldehyde, found in chemically-treated fabrics, carpets, pressed wood and other products.  
• Some hazardous chemicals identified in the report are of particular concern for nurses, including the disinfectant gluteraldehyde   and the sterilizing agent ethylene oxide.
• Safer alternatives are available. The report provides detailed information about how to find safer alternatives.

Asthma is a public health crisis. In the U.S., the number of people with asthma has more than doubled over the last two decades. Asthma now costs the nation $16.1 billion annually in health care, loss of work productivity and premature death.

Workplace exposures are a particular problem. Asthma is the most commonly reported workplace lung condition. An estimated 10-23% of all adult-onset asthma cases are due to workplace exposures.

“Ironically many products used in health care to keep people safe from pathogens can cause or exacerbate asthma in susceptible people,” said Ted Schettler, MD and science director of Science and Environmental Health Network. “Fortunately there are alternative products and practices that hospitals can use to accomplish their goals without increasing asthma risks.”

To obtain a copy of the report, see www.noharm.org or call 703-243-0056. Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition with 450 groups in 55 countries working to transform the health care industry so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment.