# Exposure to Oxycide(tm) Disinfect in Dental Practices: Occupational Symptoms and Risk Factors
## 4 Discussion
Improving workplace ventilation and ensuring consistent use of PPE are critical strategies to mitigate these risks [28; 29]. One of the most robust findings of this study is the statistically significant association between the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) used and the duration of symptoms following Oxycide(tm) exposure (\(\chi^{2}\) = 34.576, df = 4, \(p\) < 0.001). Participants who used full PPE--including facial masks, gloves, and protective goggles--reported the lowest proportion of prolonged symptoms, with no cases exceeding 30 min. In contrast, those who used only gloves or no PPE at all experienced a markedly higher frequency of symptoms lasting more than 30 min. This outcome aligns with international occupational safety recommendations, which emphasize the importance of PPE in minimizing chemical exposure risk [30]. Our findings reinforce these guidelines, demonstrating that complete and consistent use of PPE offers substantial protection against inhalation- and contact-related irritative effects during Oxycide(tm) application. Ventilation also plays a protective role. Ventilation was found to play a statistically significant protective role. The results revealed a significant association between room ventilation and symptom duration (\(\chi^{2}\)(2, N = 200) = 8.712, \(p\) = 0.013). Participants who worked in ventilated rooms (i.e., rooms with windows) were significantly more likely to report either no symptoms or symptoms of short duration. In contrast, individuals working in non-ventilated environments exhibited a higher proportion of prolonged symptoms. These findings support the notion that adequate ventilation can help reduce both the incidence and persistence of symptoms related to chemical disinfectant exposure. This aligns with previous research highlighting the importance of air exchange rates in environments where such substances are used, reinforcing the recommendation to keep treatment areas well-ventilated during and after disinfectant application. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of air exchange rates in rooms where chemical disinfectants are used [20]. In this case, the evidence supports practical suggestions to maintain treatment rooms aired during and after disinfectant application. While protocol compliance--particularly with regard to recommended dose and drying time--was initially hypothesized to influence symptom onset, the statistical analysis did not confirm a significant association (\(\chi^{2}\)(4) = 9.20, \(p\) = 0.056). Nonetheless, the distribution of responses indicates a potential trend: personnel who deviated from the recommended protocol, either by exceeding the dose or allowing insufficient drying time, reported a higher proportion of early symptom onset (within 0-4 min). Although these results did not reach statistical significance, they remain consistent with previous findings suggesting that improper application techniques may elevate airborne concentrations of irritants and increase the likelihood of acute mucosal responses. Importantly, these findings do not undermine the value of the recommended protocol; on the contrary, proper adherence continues to represent a best practice for minimizing the risk of adverse effects. This is consistent with previous reports suggesting that improper application of high-level disinfectants (e.g., overdosing or aerosolizing) increases airborne irritant concentrations and contributes to acute mucosal reactions [31]. Several occupational safety assessments have discouraged spray application of PAA disinfectants and recommend wipe-based techniques instead, precisely to reduce aerosol formation [32]. In this study, a wipe-based application was used for applying the Oxycide(tm) disinfectant. All participants reported applying the disinfectant manually using cloths or wipes soaked in the diluted solution, not via spray bottles or aerosolized systems.