Potential Health Impact of Excessive Disinfectant Use during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

During COVID-19 pandemic, disinfection is a commonly used practice to control and prevent spreading the infection. Overexposure to these chemicals has led to negative health consequences. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and effects of the overuse of disinfectants during the COVID-19 outbreak in Baghdad, Iraq. One hundred employees working in medical field (Ibn Al-Bitar Research Center/ Corporation of research and Industrial Development, Ministry of Industry and Minerals – Iraq) were participated in a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted between January and March 2022. The study found that 68% of participants were confirmed to be infected with the virus, while 32% were not. The participants showed a significant age and gender distribution. According to data, 86% of the participant committed to wearing masks, 58% committed to wearing gloves while 35% committed to wearing both gloves and masks. People pick news as their main information source over social media. Furthermore, 70% of participants used ethanol for hand sterilization, while 36% used gel hand sanitizers from different manufactures. According to health consequences that appeared with different symptoms and documented during overuse of disinfectant, the regular hand sanitizer use could cause irritation and skin damage for 33% of the participants, while 67% did not show any reaction. Employers with health symptoms suggested to be related to sterilizer overuse were found to be 33% and 35% affected in skin and breathing, respectively. To summarize, this survey provides a scientific vision on the negative side effect of the excessive use of disinfectant on health which should increase the public awareness worldwide.