# Exposure to Oxycide(tm) Disinfect in Dental Practices: Occupational Symptoms and Risk Factors
## 4 Discussion  
The present study highlights an important occupational health problem in dental offices: the health effects of exposure to Oxycide(tm) disinfectant among dental professionals, with a focus on symptom prevalence, contributing procedural and environmental factors, and the role of protective measures. The findings show that Oxycide(tm), a peracetic acid-based surface disinfectant, can cause a wide range of acute irritative symptoms, even under normal use conditions in dental settings. The proportion of affected staff (63%) is unusually high, suggesting that either Oxycide(tm) has a significant irritant potential or that the way it was used led to exposures above the level considered safe. These results are in line with reports in the literature on the adverse effects of disinfectants of this type on healthcare workers [7, 13]. According to the product data sheet, Oxycide(tm) can cause severe eye and respiratory irritation when in contact with aerosols, and it is mandatory to wear appropriate protective equipment and ensure ventilation of the space during use [25]. The most common symptoms mentioned were ocular irritation, dry cough, nasal mucosa pain, and rhinorrhea, which affected 63% of the subjects. Clinical reports and occupational health evaluations have recorded similar symptoms in healthcare workers exposed to PAA-based disinfectants, such as eye burning, throat irritation, and respiratory problems [7, 26]. [PERSON] et al. found that healthcare workers who used PAA-hydrogen peroxide disinfectants frequently reported symptoms such as wet eyes and coughing after repeated use [13]. Many studies have shown that extended exposure to disinfectants by healthcare workers has been linked to several long-term health consequences, with the skin and respiratory systems being the most affected. The need to uphold strict sanitation standards in order to prevent illnesses linked to healthcare exacerbates these consequences. In order to minimize the harmful effects of disinfectants on dental practice personnel, consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial, as it offers substantial protection against inhalation- and contact-related irritative effects during disinfection processes [27]. For instance, a study by [PERSON] et al. found that the consistent use of gloves and masks significantly reduces respiratory and skin irritation among healthcare \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & & & \multicolumn{8}{c}{**Type of Reported Symptoms**} & \\ \cline{2-10}  & \begin{tabular}{c} **Burning** \\ **Sensation** \\ **in the Eyes** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Dermatitis-** \\ **Type Skin** \\ **Lesions** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Headache** \\ **the Nasal** \\ **Mucosa** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Irritative** \\ **Dry** \\ **Cough** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **None** \\ **Rinherhea** \\ **Rinherhea** \\ **Edema** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Transient** \\ **Facial** \\ **Edema** \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} **Total** \\ **Edema** \\ \end{tabular} \\ \hline \multirow{5}{*}{PPE} & facial mask and gloves & 3 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 3 & 13 & 3 & 0 & 25 \\  & \begin{tabular}{c} facial mask, \\ gloves, and \\ grogles \\ \end{tabular} & 2 & 0 & 0 & 3 & 4 & 8 & 0 & 0 & 17 \\  & \begin{tabular}{c} none \\ \end{tabular} & 0 & 2 & 1 & 1 & 3 & 4 & 0 & 0 & 11 \\ \cline{2-10}  & \
\begin{tabular}{c} only facial \\ mask \\ \end{tabular} & 4 & 2 & 2 & 1 & 6 & 8 & 2 & 1 & 26 \\ \cline{2-10}  &
\begin{tabular}{c} only gloves \\ \end{tabular} & 25 & 7 & 5 & 17 & 13 & 41 & 10 & 3 & 121 \\ \hline Total & 34 & 12 & 9 & 23 & 29 & 74 & 15 & 4 & 200 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 7: Type of personal protective equipment (PPE) used and the type of reported symptoms. workers using chemical disinfectants in clinical settings [7]. Insufficient ventilation and inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) are key risk factors that exacerbate the health impacts of disinfect exposure.