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Work-related asthma is a significant
and preventable public health problem and was included as a priority condition
in the first decade of the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA). In
occupational medicine clinics; occupational asthma is the most frequently
diagnosed occupational respiratory disease. |
One Washington Worker’s Story...
“Jim” is a sawmill worker in his early thirties. He developed
symptoms of shortness of breath and itching about one year after he
started working in a mill that processed Western Red Cedar.
Click here to view the
story.
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Work-related asthma can generally be categorized into three main types:
- Occupational Asthma – new-onset asthma resulting from
sensitization to a substance at work after a period of latency, also
referred to as sensitizer-induced or immunologic asthma
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Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS)
– new-onset asthma symptoms immediately following exposure to high levels of
an irritant in the workplace, also referred to as non-immunologic or
irritant-induced asthma.
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Work-Aggravated Asthma – pre-existing
asthma that is exacerbated by chemicals, smoke, fumes, or dust in the
workplace.
Past surveillance and research of work-related
asthma has resulted in significant knowledge of the causes and triggers of
asthma generally. This is partly due to the fact that workers are exposed to a
vast array of chemicals, sometimes at high levels or for extended periods of
time.
It has been suggested that much can be learned regarding the causes,
exacerbation, management and cure of asthma in the general population from
continued study of asthma in the workplace.
Work-related asthma is the most common occupational lung disease and can cause
significant morbidity and disability. The proportion of adult asthma that can be
attributed to workplace exposures has been estimated to be about 15%. These
estimates include both occupational asthma as well as work-aggravated asthma.
More information is available in our state plan. Click on the link
below to view the Work-related Asthma chapter.
Click here for Work Related Asthma -
State Plan (530 KB - MS Word)
Other Resources:
Selected Causes of Occupational Asthma
(65 KB - MS Word)
Occupational health and Safety Report for Washington on Asthma
Washington State Labor and Industries – Safety & Health Assessment &
Research for Prevention
National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal agency responsible for
conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of
work-related injury and illness.
Washington State Department of
Health – Health of Washington State, Work-related Asthma Chapter.
Educational Materials
National
American Lung Association Occupational Health Educational Materials
LNI Asthma Occupational Health Education Materials
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Diagnosing Work-Related Asthma - Receive one free hour of CME credit by
completing the Post Activity Evaluation
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External
Links:
Washington Asthma Initiative
Centers for Disease Control - Asthma
Environmental Protection Agency
National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health
Internal Links:
Washington State Asthma Plan
Washington State Burden
of Asthma Report
Asthma Fact Sheet
Related Links:
Tobacco Prevention and Control
Other CFH Programs
Environmental Health
Programs |
