8281176 Occupational Exposure to VOCs/Aldehydes and associations with asthma symptoms in daycares workers: the French CRESPI cohort

<h3>Objective</h3> Since the early 2000s, interest has grown in understanding the influence of poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) on respiratory disorders like asthma. Although exposure to inhaled pollutants including disinfectant and cleaning products is common in many workplaces, it remains poorly investigated, especially in daycare settings. The aim of this work is to investigate associations between IAQ and the respiratory health of daycare workers. <h3>Material and Methods</h3> In the French CRESPI cohort (2019-2022), concentrations of 67 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and aldehydes were measured in 106 daycares during one day and concentrations were studied in 4 categories based on quartiles (Q1 to Q4). Using a self-administered standardized questionnaire, we evaluated asthma through the asthma symptom score, which consists of the sum of 5 asthma symptoms reported in the past 12 months: breathless while wheezing, woken up with chest tightness, attack of shortness of breath at rest, attack of shortness of breath after exercise and woken up by attack of shortness of breath. Cross-sectional associations between daycare VOC/aldehyde concentrations and the asthma symptom score (0 to 5) were estimated. Negative binomial models accounting for daycare effect, were adjusted for age, smoking status, body mass index and job type. <h3>Results</h3> This study included 300 women (mean age: 44 years; current smokers: 11%; job type: child-care: 69%, cleaning/cooking/washing: 7%, administration: 24%). Higher concentrations of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3) (Mean-Score Ratio Q4 versus Q1, 95% CI:1.74, 1.06–2.87; p-trend&lt;0.01), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) (2.24, 1.35-3.71; p-trend&lt;0.01), and tetrachloroethylene (1.67, 1.03-2.73; p-trend=0.04) in daycare settings were associated with increased asthma symptom score. No significance remained after correction for multiple testing. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Workplace exposure to specific indoor air pollutants was associated with asthma symptoms in daycare workers. Further analysis is ongoing to investigate associations between multipollutant groups and asthma. These findings highlight the need to implement additional measures to reduce pollutant concentrations and control their sources in daycare environments.