Household disinfectants may increase your risk of fatal lung disease

People who are constantly exposed to disinfectants could be increasing their chances of developing fatal lung disease according to a study by Harvard University and the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research.

After closely looking at more than 55,000 nurses in the US, researchers concluded that those who used disinfectants once a week with specific chemicals in them, such as bleach, had as high as a 32 percent increased chance of suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This usually mainly affects people over the age of 35 who are or have been heavy smokers.

According to the Guardian, the everyday use of bleach currently has no specific health guidelines, but the researchers hope this will be investigated.

Ultimately researchers urged the need for updated guidelines for cleaning and disinfection in healthcare settings in order to control the risk health workers face.

Previous studies have linked exposure to domestic disinfectants with breathing problems such as asthma. Researchers said their impact should be studied further.