PhD student Laura Van den Borre (VUB) and professor Patrick Deboosere conducted research into this phenomenon.
The researchers counted more than twice as many deaths among cleaning staff from conditions such as chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema.
This is probably related to the inhalation of chemical cleaning agents, moulds and dust.
There are almost 200,000 of them: men and women who clean our homes, offices or disinfect industry. But while they make the world cleaner, they do damage their own bodies.
"These people are so often overlooked, while they are present everywhere. Their health is at stake and meanwhile we notice nothing."
Most damage among domestic help
Notably: the effects are greatest among domestic help. This is because you are more often exposed to cleaning agents at home than in industrial cleaning.
Van den Borre believes that more research is needed into respiratory problems in the cleaning industry and argues for extra prevention and training.
Although according to the sector a lot is already being done: they wear cleaning clothing, gloves and safety shoes.
Source: Nieuwsblad