Rhinitis and asthma symptoms in non-domestic cleaners from the Sao Paulo metropolitan area, Brazil.

Background: Exposure to cleaning products has frequently been reported as a symptom trigger by workers with work-related asthma diagnosed in workers' health clinics in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Objectives: To estimate rhinitis and asthma symptoms prevalence and to analyse associated risk factors.

Method: A respiratory symptoms questionnaire (Medical Research Council 1976) and the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire were applied to 341 cleaners working in the city of São Paulo, along with obtaining full occupational histories, skin prick tests and spirometry.