Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Occupational asthma: Definitions, epidemiology, causes, and risk factors – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/occupational-asthma-definitions-epidemiology-causes-and-risk-factors

  Occupational asthma accounts for approximately 10 to 25 percent of adult onset asthma. […] The definition, epidemiology, causes, and risk factors of OA are reviewed here. […] Occupational asthma (OA) begins during adulthood and is induced by exposure to immunologic or nonimmunologic stimuli found in the workplace.

• #2 Occupational Asthma

  https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/allergy/occupational-asthma/

  Occupational asthma is a part of a larger category of diseases known as occupational respiratory diseases and includes occupation-induced rhinitis and laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and bronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and interstitial diseases such as fibrosis and granuloma formation. Although both physicians and the lay public are aware of other occupational lung disorders such as silicosis and asbestosis, OA is the most prevalent occupational lung disease in industrialized countries. […] In general, asthma affects 5% to 10% of people worldwide, and it is estimated that 2% to 15% of asthma may be occupational in origin. […] The incidence of OA also varies with specific exposures. OA has been reported in 8% to 12% of laboratory animal workers, 7% to 9% of bakers, and 1.4% of healthcare workers exposed to natural rubber latex. […] Over the past several years there has been an increased awareness, and growing evidence that cleaners are at increased risk of developing OA and other respiratory disorders.

• #3 Occupational Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma can be categorised into:2 […] The true frequency of occupational asthma is not known but under-reporting is likely. It is estimated that occupational asthma may account for about 9-15% of adult-onset asthma. […] Several hundred occupational agents, mainly allergens but also irritants and substances with unknown pathological mechanisms, have been identified as causing work-related asthma. […] The diagnosis of occupational asthma should be suspected in all adults with symptoms of airflow limitation and it should be positively searched for in those with high-risk occupations or exposures. […] Early diagnosis is the key to reducing morbidity. […] The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require an employer to identify all exposures at work, to assess and prevent or control risks and to give workers information about any risks and the methods for controlling them.

• #4 Work-Related Asthma – MN Dept. of Health

  https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/asthma/workplaces/index.html

  Asthma is considered to be Work-related when someones asthma symptoms worsen because of exposures to allergens or irritants at work. It is estimated that 15% of people with asthma experience worsening symptoms at work or work-related asthma (WRA). […] If exposures at work have caused the development of newly diagnosed asthma, it is referred to as Occupational Asthma (OA). Approximately 17% of all adult-onset asthma cases are related to occupational exposures. The median prevalence of work-exacerbated or work-related asthma is 22%, but some studies have suggested that this could be as high as 58%. (NIOSH 2018). […] In general, the term work-related asthma is used to cover both asthma that is caused by work and asthma that gets worse at work. […] According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), an estimated 11%-21% of those asthma deaths can be attributed or related to exposures at work.

• #5 occupational-asthma – Asthma Initiative of Michigan

  https://getasthmahelp.org/occupational-asthma/

  There are hundreds of known causes of work-related asthma. Each year in Michigan, about 80 new cases of asthma caused by exposures to substances at work are reported to the MI Dept of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). […] In Michigan, new cases of work-related asthma are identified in about 80 workers each year; this is an underestimate of the true number of individuals developing asthma from work place exposures in our state. It is estimated there are 228-801 individuals a year who develop work-related asthma in Michigan. Approximately 15-36.5% of adult asthma is considered to be work-related. […] A special State tracking program has been identifying individuals with work-related asthma since 1988. The program interviews workers about their work place exposures, their symptoms and the timing of symptoms in relation to work.

• #6 Work-related asthma in the USA: nationally representative estimates with extended follow-up | Occupational & Environmental Medicine

  https://oem.bmj.com/content/77/9/617

  Consistent with our first hypothesis and previous estimates, people in high-risk occupations were more than four times as likely to report asthma diagnoses than people in low-risk occupations. […] We also found that WRA may account for about 11.3% of all adult asthma, based on the population attributable risk. […] More than one-third of women in high-risk occupations reported an asthma diagnosis during working life, compared with about 11% of men.

• #7 Asthma caused by occupational exposures is common – A systematic analysis of estimates of the population-attributable fraction | BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Full Text

  https://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2466-9-7

  The aim of this paper is to highlight emerging data on occupational attributable risk in asthma. […] In recent years there has been a growing recognition of the potential importance of asthma induced by work-related exposures. […] The longitudinal studies indicate that 16.3% of all adult-onset asthma is caused by occupational exposures. […] At a societal level, these findings underscore the need for further preventive action to reduce the occupational exposures to asthma-causing agents. […] The PAR (also referred to as the population attributable fraction), can be derived from standard risk-based measures (the relative risk or odds ratio), and provides an estimate given in percent of the overall burden of disease in a population that is due to the risk factor in question. […] Overall, the PAR estimates for asthma summarized in the ATS statement also yielded a median value of 15%.

• #8 Asthma caused by occupational exposures is common – A systematic analysis of estimates of the population-attributable fraction | BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Full Text

  https://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2466-9-7

  The purpose of this review is to systematically evaluate the scientific literature that has appeared since our previous review, synthesizing these new studies and integrating their findings with previously summarized data. […] As shown in Table 5, there were six longitudinal studies included, and, based on these studies, 16.3% (median) of all asthma, adult-onset by the nature of these studies, is attributable to occupational exposures. […] The analysis presented here yields an estimate of the PAR for asthma associated with work-related exposures that is quite consistent with past estimates. […] One key lesson clinicians should take from these data is that, when assessing patients of working age who have asthma, the occupational history should be carefully considered, in particular job duties held when the asthma first became manifest. […] These data underscore the need for further actions to reduce the occupational exposure likely to lead to work-related asthma, on both the individual and population level.

• #9 Standards of care for occupational asthma | Thorax

  https://thorax.bmj.com/content/63/3/240

  Occupational asthma remains a common disease in the UK with up to 3000 new cases diagnosed each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to our society to be over 1.1 billion for each 10-year period. […] The reported incidence of occupational asthma may be underestimated by as much as 50% (ES3* SIGN 3). […] Health surveillance can detect occupational asthma at an earlier stage of disease and the outcome is improved in workers who are included in a health surveillance programme (ES20* SIGN 3). […] Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma (ES16** SIGN 2+). […] Approximately one-third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis (ES49** SIGN 2). […] Workers with occupational asthma suffer financially (ES50** SIGN 2).

• #10 Employers’ Guide to Occupational Asthma | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/employers-guide-occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work-related lung disease in the UK. […] Occupational asthma is caused by exposure to a substance in the air at work. […] Reducing airborne exposure levels reduces the incidence of occupational asthma. […] The best opportunity to reverse or improve occupational asthma occurs with early diagnosis, before lung function is too impaired and with early removal from further exposure to the causative agent. […] The most important measure is the primary prevention of occupational asthma by eliminating or reducing exposure to its causes at work. […] Secondary prevention involves detecting signs of asthma in employees at an early stage, ideally before they are aware of any symptoms. […] This is achieved by regular health surveillance and is important because: Outcome is improved in workers who are included in health surveillance programmes.

• #11 Occupational asthma – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_asthma

  Occupational asthma is one of the most common occupational lung disease. Approximately 17% of all adult-onset asthma cases are related to occupational exposures. About one fourth of adults with asthma have work-exacerbated asthma. Patients with work-related asthma are more likely to experience asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and worsening of their asthma symptoms compared with other adult asthma patients. […] A number of diseases have symptoms that mimic occupational asthma, such as asthma due to nonoccupational causes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), irritable larynx syndrome, hyperventilation syndrome, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and bronchiolitis obliterans. […] Several forms of preventive measures have been suggested to prevent development of occupational asthma and also detect risk or disease early to allow intervention and improve outcomes. These include: comprehensive programs, education and training, medical examinations, use of medications, reduction of exposures and elimination of exposures. […] To diagnose occupational asthma it is necessary to confirm the symptoms of asthma and establish the causal connection with the work environment. Various diagnostic tests can be used to aid in diagnoses of work-related asthma.

• #12 Asthma (include occupational asthma): Pathogenesis and Epidemiology – Dermatology Advisor

  https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/pulmonary-medicine/asthma-include-occupational-asthma-pathogenesis-and-epidemiology/

  Occupational or work-related asthma is the most common chronic occupation lung disease in the United States occurring in 250-300 cases per 1 million people per year. It occurs most often in the manufacturing industry and is also commonly seen in health care and education. Occupational asthma is defined as asthma triggered by allergens isolated to the work place environment. Once a patient is sensitized to the trigger, very low dose exposures can trigger symptoms, which are often accompanied by allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. There are, however, other exposures that produce irritant-induced asthma symptoms and are not associated with the allergic phenotype. […] Occupational asthma is an under diagnosed and undertreated clinical entity. About 16% of all adult-onset asthma is attributed to occupational asthma, and it should be considered in all cases of adult-onset asthma.

• #13 Work-related Asthma | Mass.gov

  https://www.mass.gov/work-related-asthma

  Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and can make it difficult to breathe. Asthma may be caused or made worse by exposures in the workplace, such as cleaning chemicals, wheat flour, mold, wood dusts, spray polyurethane foam, and many others. […] According to our data, an estimated 200,000 adults in Massachusetts have work-related asthma. Health care providers should ask all adult patients with new or worsening asthma about work and report suspected cases of work-related asthma to the Department of Public Health (DPH). We use data to characterize work-related asthma in the state and to target intervention efforts. […] CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) funds this project.

• #14 occupational-asthma – Asthma Initiative of Michigan

  https://getasthmahelp.org/occupational-asthma/

  There are hundreds of known causes of work-related asthma. Each year in Michigan, about 80 new cases of asthma caused by exposures to substances at work are reported to the MI Dept of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). […] In Michigan, new cases of work-related asthma are identified in about 80 workers each year; this is an underestimate of the true number of individuals developing asthma from work place exposures in our state. It is estimated there are 228-801 individuals a year who develop work-related asthma in Michigan. Approximately 15-36.5% of adult asthma is considered to be work-related. […] A special State tracking program has been identifying individuals with work-related asthma since 1988. The program interviews workers about their work place exposures, their symptoms and the timing of symptoms in relation to work.

• #15 AAIR :: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research

  https://e-aair.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.51

  To determine the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of work-related asthma in Korea. […] During 2004-2009, the Korea Work-Related Asthma Surveillance (KOWAS) program collected data on new cases of work-related asthma from occupational physicians, allergy and chest physicians, regional surveillance systems, and workers’ compensation schemes. […] The overall average annual incidence was 3.31 cases/million workers, with a rate of 3.78/million among men and 2.58/million among women. […] The incidence of work-related asthma in Korea was relatively low, and varied according to industry, occupation, gender, age, and region. […] Data provided by workers’ compensation schemes and physician reports have been useful for determining the incidence and causes of work-related asthma. […] The average WRA incidence of 3.31/million reported in our study was lower than those reported by surveillance systems in other countries, which ranged from 5-174/million workers.

• #16 AAIR :: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research

  https://e-aair.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.51

  To determine the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of work-related asthma in Korea. […] During 2004-2009, the Korea Work-Related Asthma Surveillance (KOWAS) program collected data on new cases of work-related asthma from occupational physicians, allergy and chest physicians, regional surveillance systems, and workers’ compensation schemes. […] The overall average annual incidence was 3.31 cases/million workers, with a rate of 3.78/million among men and 2.58/million among women. […] The incidence of work-related asthma in Korea was relatively low, and varied according to industry, occupation, gender, age, and region. […] Data provided by workers’ compensation schemes and physician reports have been useful for determining the incidence and causes of work-related asthma. […] The average WRA incidence of 3.31/million reported in our study was lower than those reported by surveillance systems in other countries, which ranged from 5-174/million workers.

• #17 Occupational Asthma

  https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/allergy/occupational-asthma/

  Occupational asthma is a part of a larger category of diseases known as occupational respiratory diseases and includes occupation-induced rhinitis and laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and bronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and interstitial diseases such as fibrosis and granuloma formation. Although both physicians and the lay public are aware of other occupational lung disorders such as silicosis and asbestosis, OA is the most prevalent occupational lung disease in industrialized countries. […] In general, asthma affects 5% to 10% of people worldwide, and it is estimated that 2% to 15% of asthma may be occupational in origin. […] The incidence of OA also varies with specific exposures. OA has been reported in 8% to 12% of laboratory animal workers, 7% to 9% of bakers, and 1.4% of healthcare workers exposed to natural rubber latex. […] Over the past several years there has been an increased awareness, and growing evidence that cleaners are at increased risk of developing OA and other respiratory disorders.

• #18 Occupational Asthma

  https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/allergy/occupational-asthma/

  Occupational asthma is a part of a larger category of diseases known as occupational respiratory diseases and includes occupation-induced rhinitis and laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and bronchiolitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and interstitial diseases such as fibrosis and granuloma formation. Although both physicians and the lay public are aware of other occupational lung disorders such as silicosis and asbestosis, OA is the most prevalent occupational lung disease in industrialized countries. […] In general, asthma affects 5% to 10% of people worldwide, and it is estimated that 2% to 15% of asthma may be occupational in origin. […] The incidence of OA also varies with specific exposures. OA has been reported in 8% to 12% of laboratory animal workers, 7% to 9% of bakers, and 1.4% of healthcare workers exposed to natural rubber latex. […] Over the past several years there has been an increased awareness, and growing evidence that cleaners are at increased risk of developing OA and other respiratory disorders.

• #19

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  Cleaning products are mixtures of many chemical ingredients that are known to contain sensitizers, disinfectants, and fragrances, as well as strong airway irritants which associated with lower respiratory tract and asthma symptoms. […] The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and possible risk factors of occupational asthma and its effect on quality of life among workers in detergent and cleaning products industries in El Asher men Ramadan city. […] The prevalence of occupational asthma among the studied workers was 35.4%. […] Workers in detergent and cleaning products industry are at higher risk for developing occupational asthma that adversely affects their general health and quality of life. […] Coverage and researches for occupational asthma were limited in Egypt especially among workers in detergent and cleaning products industry and its impact on quality in life.

• #20

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  The high prevalence of occupational asthma among this workers are explained by that cleaning agents and detergents contain irritants like chlorine and ammonia, as well as possible sensitizers including quaternary ammonium compounds and fragrances. […] Both allergic and irritating processes are implicated in asthma development caused by cleaning chemicals and disinfectants; however, the irritant mechanisms are the most prominent. […] Several sociodemographic and work characteristics are associated with increased risk of developing occupational asthma. […] In the present study, female gender was significantly associated with development of occupational asthma. […] The implementation of exposure control tools resulted in a significant reduction in exposure; this resulted in the elimination of symptoms among IgE-positive workers as well as low rates of new sensitization in the workforce.

• #21 AAIR :: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research

  https://e-aair.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.51

  The WRA incidence estimated by capture-recapture analysis was 6.28/million. […] Approximately 80.1% (n=189) of all reported WRA cases were found in the manufacturing sector, including furniture manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing, and food and beverage manufacturing. […] The rates of WRA in Korea differ substantially across regions within the country, ranging from 0.92-8.50/million workers. […] The most common cause of WRA in Korea was exposure to isocyanates, but the proportion of WRA cases attributed to isocyanates in Korea (46.6%) was much higher than that in other countries (13.6%-23.1%). […] The effectiveness of the KOWAS could be improved if it was supported by active and ongoing work-related disease surveillance schemes and occasional company-wide health evaluations. […] As a public health surveillance system, the objective of the KOWAS is not only to estimate the magnitude of WRA, but to also analyze WRA trends in Korea, to detect emerging causes of WRA, and to guide policy changes and workplace interventions in order to prevent WRA and promote worker health.

• #22 AAIR :: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research

  https://e-aair.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.51

  The WRA incidence estimated by capture-recapture analysis was 6.28/million. […] Approximately 80.1% (n=189) of all reported WRA cases were found in the manufacturing sector, including furniture manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing, and food and beverage manufacturing. […] The rates of WRA in Korea differ substantially across regions within the country, ranging from 0.92-8.50/million workers. […] The most common cause of WRA in Korea was exposure to isocyanates, but the proportion of WRA cases attributed to isocyanates in Korea (46.6%) was much higher than that in other countries (13.6%-23.1%). […] The effectiveness of the KOWAS could be improved if it was supported by active and ongoing work-related disease surveillance schemes and occasional company-wide health evaluations. […] As a public health surveillance system, the objective of the KOWAS is not only to estimate the magnitude of WRA, but to also analyze WRA trends in Korea, to detect emerging causes of WRA, and to guide policy changes and workplace interventions in order to prevent WRA and promote worker health.

• #23 The epidemiology of occupational asthma – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8143816/

  With the accelerating pace of new knowledge about occupational asthma, systematic epidemiological approaches have yielded important new insights into its clinical characteristics. […] Surveillance programmes estimate the number of exposed individuals and the number of incident cases, allowing us to perceive the magnitude of the health problem. […] Epidemiological techniques can quantify the importance of predisposing factors, such as atopy or cigarette smoking, in determining individual risk factors for occupational asthma. […] The goal of applying epidemiological techniques to the study of occupational asthma is ultimately to identify more effective means to prevent its occurrence.

• #24 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CDC, initiated the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR), a pilot project conducted in association with state health departments. A goal of SENSOR is to improve the reporting and surveillance of work-related health conditions, including occupational asthma. Of the 10 states participating in the SENSOR program, six (Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin) have identified occupational asthma as a condition targeted for surveillance. This report describes the implementation and early results of occupational asthma surveillance in Michigan, Colorado, and New Jersey, whose programs share certain features. […] SENSOR programs in each of these three states receive occupational asthma case reports by telephone from any health-care provider in the respective state.

• #25 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CDC, initiated the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR), a pilot project conducted in association with state health departments. A goal of SENSOR is to improve the reporting and surveillance of work-related health conditions, including occupational asthma. Of the 10 states participating in the SENSOR program, six (Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin) have identified occupational asthma as a condition targeted for surveillance. This report describes the implementation and early results of occupational asthma surveillance in Michigan, Colorado, and New Jersey, whose programs share certain features. […] SENSOR programs in each of these three states receive occupational asthma case reports by telephone from any health-care provider in the respective state.

• #26 Work-related Asthma | Surveillance | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveillance/respiratorydisease/work-related-asthma.html

  The following states were funded by NIOSH during the 20212026 State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program. This funding cycle is for case-based work-related asthma (WRA) surveillance. […] The ascertainment source for work-related asthma cases varies by state. Massachusetts, Michigan, California, and Washington all ascertain WRA cases from workers’ compensation data. […] State surveillance includes demographic, work-history, and medical information for case confirmation, classification, and description. This is done through a combination of: […] Find guidelines for identifying and reporting cases on the WRA State Reporting Guidelines page. […] NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database. It contains safety and health publications supported in whole or in part by NIOSH. […] Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Occupational Health Indicators.

• #27 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  Characteristics of the case report determine priorities for follow-up workplace investigations conducted by the SENSOR program personnel. […] In Michigan, an occupational disease reporting law was already in effect when the SENSOR program started. […] Consequently, the number of occupational asthma reports increased sharply, from 18 during 1984-1986 to 101 cases reported from September 1988 through August 1989. […] In Colorado, voluntary reporting of occupational asthma cases started in October 1987; in August 1988, state health regulations were modified to make occupational asthma and occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis reportable conditions. […] New Jersey implemented voluntary reporting of occupational asthma in 1988. […] Editorial Note: Asthma caused by occupational exposures has been recognized for nearly 3 centuries, but the true incidence and prevalence of work-induced asthma remain uncertain.

• #28 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  Characteristics of the case report determine priorities for follow-up workplace investigations conducted by the SENSOR program personnel. […] In Michigan, an occupational disease reporting law was already in effect when the SENSOR program started. […] Consequently, the number of occupational asthma reports increased sharply, from 18 during 1984-1986 to 101 cases reported from September 1988 through August 1989. […] In Colorado, voluntary reporting of occupational asthma cases started in October 1987; in August 1988, state health regulations were modified to make occupational asthma and occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis reportable conditions. […] New Jersey implemented voluntary reporting of occupational asthma in 1988. […] Editorial Note: Asthma caused by occupational exposures has been recognized for nearly 3 centuries, but the true incidence and prevalence of work-induced asthma remain uncertain.

• #29 Work-related Asthma | Surveillance | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveillance/respiratorydisease/work-related-asthma.html

  The following states were funded by NIOSH during the 20212026 State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program. This funding cycle is for case-based work-related asthma (WRA) surveillance. […] The ascertainment source for work-related asthma cases varies by state. Massachusetts, Michigan, California, and Washington all ascertain WRA cases from workers’ compensation data. […] State surveillance includes demographic, work-history, and medical information for case confirmation, classification, and description. This is done through a combination of: […] Find guidelines for identifying and reporting cases on the WRA State Reporting Guidelines page. […] NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database. It contains safety and health publications supported in whole or in part by NIOSH. […] Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Occupational Health Indicators.

• #30 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  In 1987, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), CDC, initiated the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR), a pilot project conducted in association with state health departments. A goal of SENSOR is to improve the reporting and surveillance of work-related health conditions, including occupational asthma. Of the 10 states participating in the SENSOR program, six (Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin) have identified occupational asthma as a condition targeted for surveillance. This report describes the implementation and early results of occupational asthma surveillance in Michigan, Colorado, and New Jersey, whose programs share certain features. […] SENSOR programs in each of these three states receive occupational asthma case reports by telephone from any health-care provider in the respective state.

• #31 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  Characteristics of the case report determine priorities for follow-up workplace investigations conducted by the SENSOR program personnel. […] In Michigan, an occupational disease reporting law was already in effect when the SENSOR program started. […] Consequently, the number of occupational asthma reports increased sharply, from 18 during 1984-1986 to 101 cases reported from September 1988 through August 1989. […] In Colorado, voluntary reporting of occupational asthma cases started in October 1987; in August 1988, state health regulations were modified to make occupational asthma and occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis reportable conditions. […] New Jersey implemented voluntary reporting of occupational asthma in 1988. […] Editorial Note: Asthma caused by occupational exposures has been recognized for nearly 3 centuries, but the true incidence and prevalence of work-induced asthma remain uncertain.

• #32 Health Surveillance

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/bohrfviewheading.aspx?id=3

  Periodic health surveillance for occupational asthma aims to identify sensitised workers or cases of asthma at an early and reversible stage of the disease. […] Very few published reports have evaluated the components of surveillance used in occupational asthma. […] Methods commonly used in surveillance to identify cases of occupational asthma are respiratory questionnaire, spirometry (to measure FEV1 and FVC) and, where appropriate, identification of specific IgE by skin prick test or serology. […] There have been few small studies of case identification of occupational asthma through surveillance of workers at risk. […] Skin prick tests and serological tests can detect specific IgE in workers who have become sensitised to high molecular weight allergens and a few low molecular weight chemicals (complex platinum salts, acid anhydrides and some reactive dyes). […] Prospective surveillance for the development of specific IgE antibodies can be used as part of a broader risk management programme to reduce the incidence of occupational asthma.

• #33 Occupational Asthma Reference

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4056

  Surveillance of work-related asthma in selected U.S. states using surveillance guidelines for state health departments–California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey, 1993-1995, Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report, 1999;CDC:1-20. […] Cases of work-related asthma (WRA) are sentinel health events that indicate the need for preventive intervention. […] State-based surveillance and intervention programs for WRA are conducted in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey as part of the Sentinel Event Notification Systems for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) cooperative agreement program, initiated by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). […] From 1993 through 1995, a total of 1,101 cases of WRA were identified by SENSOR surveillance staff members in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey.

• #34 Occupational Asthma Reference

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4056

  The surveillance data findings confirm well-recognized causes of asthma and have identified new putative causes (e.g., cleaning materials and metalworking fluids). […] Case-based surveillance can help improve the recognition, control, and prevention of WRA. […] NIOSH and state health department representatives are working to establish a long-term agenda for state-based surveillance of work-related conditions and hazards. […] The results from the SENSOR WRA programs described in this report support inclusion of WRA as a priority condition warranting surveillance at the state level.

• #35 Occupational Disease Surveillance: Occupational Asthma

  https://www.cdc.gov/Mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001565.htm

  Occupational asthma is an increasingly important cause of respiratory impairment; it can persist for years, even after termination of workplace exposures. […] Early experience in Michigan, Colorado, and New Jersey indicates that physician reporting of occupational asthma can be used to identify workplaces with remediable health hazards. This approach may improve surveillance of occupational asthma and provide opportunities for primary and secondary prevention. […] The reporting guidelines and case definition for surveillance for occupational asthma are recommended for surveillance of work-related asthma by state health departments receiving reports of cases from physicians and other health-care providers.

• #36 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma: Data, Statistics, and Reports

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/statistics.shtml

  This Web page contains work-related asthma (WRA) statistics from two sources: 1) the NJ Adult Asthma Call-Back Survey (ACBS) and 2) the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project. […] Results from the 2008-2010 NJ Asthma Call-Back Survey indicated that over 54,000 adult NJ residents reported being diagnosed by a health professional as having work-related asthma. Of these adults, 35,000 stated that they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. […] Yet, NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project has confirmed only 659 cases of work-related asthma since 1993, indicating that WRA may be greatly underreported. NJ law (N.J.A.C. 8:58) requires health care providers and hospitals to report WRA to the NJDOH for public health follow-up. […] In contrast to the estimates derived from the New Jersey ACBS, the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project identified and confirmed only 659 cases of WRA between the years 1993 through 2011. The large discrepancy between the number of identified cases and ACBS estimates is attributable to underrecognition and/or underreporting of the disease. Many employers and health care providers are not aware that exposures to certain substances might have adverse health effects on workers, especially those who are hypersensitive, even at levels well below legal (OSHA) exposure limits.

• #37 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma: Data, Statistics, and Reports

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/statistics.shtml

  This Web page contains work-related asthma (WRA) statistics from two sources: 1) the NJ Adult Asthma Call-Back Survey (ACBS) and 2) the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project. […] Results from the 2008-2010 NJ Asthma Call-Back Survey indicated that over 54,000 adult NJ residents reported being diagnosed by a health professional as having work-related asthma. Of these adults, 35,000 stated that they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. […] Yet, NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project has confirmed only 659 cases of work-related asthma since 1993, indicating that WRA may be greatly underreported. NJ law (N.J.A.C. 8:58) requires health care providers and hospitals to report WRA to the NJDOH for public health follow-up. […] In contrast to the estimates derived from the New Jersey ACBS, the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project identified and confirmed only 659 cases of WRA between the years 1993 through 2011. The large discrepancy between the number of identified cases and ACBS estimates is attributable to underrecognition and/or underreporting of the disease. Many employers and health care providers are not aware that exposures to certain substances might have adverse health effects on workers, especially those who are hypersensitive, even at levels well below legal (OSHA) exposure limits.

• #38 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma: Data, Statistics, and Reports

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/statistics.shtml

  This Web page contains work-related asthma (WRA) statistics from two sources: 1) the NJ Adult Asthma Call-Back Survey (ACBS) and 2) the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project. […] Results from the 2008-2010 NJ Asthma Call-Back Survey indicated that over 54,000 adult NJ residents reported being diagnosed by a health professional as having work-related asthma. Of these adults, 35,000 stated that they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. […] Yet, NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project has confirmed only 659 cases of work-related asthma since 1993, indicating that WRA may be greatly underreported. NJ law (N.J.A.C. 8:58) requires health care providers and hospitals to report WRA to the NJDOH for public health follow-up. […] In contrast to the estimates derived from the New Jersey ACBS, the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project identified and confirmed only 659 cases of WRA between the years 1993 through 2011. The large discrepancy between the number of identified cases and ACBS estimates is attributable to underrecognition and/or underreporting of the disease. Many employers and health care providers are not aware that exposures to certain substances might have adverse health effects on workers, especially those who are hypersensitive, even at levels well below legal (OSHA) exposure limits.

• #39 Occupational asthma – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/occupational-asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375772

  Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by breathing in fumes, gases, dust or other substances while on the job. […] More than 400 workplace substances have been identified as possible triggers of occupational asthma. […] The longer you’re exposed to a substance that can cause occupational asthma, the worse your symptoms may become. […] The best way to prevent occupational asthma is to control exposure to chemicals and other substances that are known to be irritating. […] Under guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), your employer is required to do the following: Tell you if you’ll be working with any harmful chemicals.

• #40 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma Guidance for Workers

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/

  Work-related asthma is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Many of those affected said they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. More than 300 substances used in the workplace are known to either cause asthma in healthy workers or aggravate asthma in those who already have the condition. […] Work-related asthma can be prevented. New Jersey law requires physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses to report work-related asthma cases for proper public health follow-up. […] If you think you have might have work-related asthma, you need to: Talk to your doctor about your asthma and your work. Ask your doctor to report your asthma to NJDOH. New Jersey law requires physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to report cases of work-related asthma. […] Work-related asthma is usually reversible. But permanent lung damage, or even death, can occur if exposure to the substance that causes the disease continues. In some workers, very small amounts of the substance can cause an asthma attack. […] Work-Related Asthma Statistics.

• #41 Progress in Occupational Asthma

  https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4553

  Occupational asthma (OA) represents one of the major public health problems due to its high prevalence, important social and economic burden. The aim of this review is to summarize current data about clinical phenotypes, biomarkers, diagnosis and management of OA, a subtype of work-related asthma. […] More than 400 agents causing OA have been identified and its list is growing fast. The best diagnostic approach for OA is a combination of clinical history and objective tests. An important tool is a specific inhalation challenge. […] The diagnosis of OA is difficult, requiring confirmation for the diagnosis of asthma, plus evidence that the asthma was caused by workplace conditions. An accurate diagnosis of OA is a very important viewing of the significant health consequences for affected workers, but also the substantial socio-economic impact.

• #42 Work-related Asthma and Occupational Asthma – An introduction | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/work-related-asthma-and-occupational-asthma-introduction

  Several hundred agents have been identified to cause occupational asthma. […] The level of exposure to agents that cause occupational asthma is the major risk factor for the development of occupational asthma; therefore, reducing exposure is the lynchpin of prevention. […] Employers should arrange regular health surveillance for workers who are at risk of developing occupational asthma. […] A diagnosis of work-related asthma requires specialist investigation to determine whether or not work is either causing or aggravating someone’s asthma. […] If an employee has occupational asthma it is important that they avoid further exposure to the cause completely and early in the course of the disease.

• #43 AAIR :: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research

  https://e-aair.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.51

  The WRA incidence estimated by capture-recapture analysis was 6.28/million. […] Approximately 80.1% (n=189) of all reported WRA cases were found in the manufacturing sector, including furniture manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, vehicle manufacturing, and food and beverage manufacturing. […] The rates of WRA in Korea differ substantially across regions within the country, ranging from 0.92-8.50/million workers. […] The most common cause of WRA in Korea was exposure to isocyanates, but the proportion of WRA cases attributed to isocyanates in Korea (46.6%) was much higher than that in other countries (13.6%-23.1%). […] The effectiveness of the KOWAS could be improved if it was supported by active and ongoing work-related disease surveillance schemes and occasional company-wide health evaluations. […] As a public health surveillance system, the objective of the KOWAS is not only to estimate the magnitude of WRA, but to also analyze WRA trends in Korea, to detect emerging causes of WRA, and to guide policy changes and workplace interventions in order to prevent WRA and promote worker health.

• #44 Health Surveillance

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/bohrfviewheading.aspx?id=3

  Periodic health surveillance for occupational asthma aims to identify sensitised workers or cases of asthma at an early and reversible stage of the disease. […] Very few published reports have evaluated the components of surveillance used in occupational asthma. […] Methods commonly used in surveillance to identify cases of occupational asthma are respiratory questionnaire, spirometry (to measure FEV1 and FVC) and, where appropriate, identification of specific IgE by skin prick test or serology. […] There have been few small studies of case identification of occupational asthma through surveillance of workers at risk. […] Skin prick tests and serological tests can detect specific IgE in workers who have become sensitised to high molecular weight allergens and a few low molecular weight chemicals (complex platinum salts, acid anhydrides and some reactive dyes). […] Prospective surveillance for the development of specific IgE antibodies can be used as part of a broader risk management programme to reduce the incidence of occupational asthma.

• #45

  https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html

  Triggers may be irritants, allergens, or physical conditions such as: Chemicals, Dust from wood, grain, flour, or metal, Smoke, Enzymes (e.g., in detergents or laboratories) and moulds, Proteins from animals, plants, foods, insects and fish, Physical exertion, Cold air. […] Sometimes, the body can develop a sensitization (an allergic-type) reaction when it is exposed continuously to a trigger. The process is usually not immediate; it evolves over a period of time and involves the body’s immune system. […] After a period of exposure to a trigger, either natural or synthetic, a worker may start producing too many of the antibodies called „immunoglobulin E” (IgE). […] In this case, the disease is caused by the direct irritating effect of certain triggers on the airways. This type of asthma is called Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS).

• #46

  https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html

  Triggers may be irritants, allergens, or physical conditions such as: Chemicals, Dust from wood, grain, flour, or metal, Smoke, Enzymes (e.g., in detergents or laboratories) and moulds, Proteins from animals, plants, foods, insects and fish, Physical exertion, Cold air. […] Sometimes, the body can develop a sensitization (an allergic-type) reaction when it is exposed continuously to a trigger. The process is usually not immediate; it evolves over a period of time and involves the body’s immune system. […] After a period of exposure to a trigger, either natural or synthetic, a worker may start producing too many of the antibodies called „immunoglobulin E” (IgE). […] In this case, the disease is caused by the direct irritating effect of certain triggers on the airways. This type of asthma is called Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS).

• #47

  https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html

  Triggers may be irritants, allergens, or physical conditions such as: Chemicals, Dust from wood, grain, flour, or metal, Smoke, Enzymes (e.g., in detergents or laboratories) and moulds, Proteins from animals, plants, foods, insects and fish, Physical exertion, Cold air. […] Sometimes, the body can develop a sensitization (an allergic-type) reaction when it is exposed continuously to a trigger. The process is usually not immediate; it evolves over a period of time and involves the body’s immune system. […] After a period of exposure to a trigger, either natural or synthetic, a worker may start producing too many of the antibodies called „immunoglobulin E” (IgE). […] In this case, the disease is caused by the direct irritating effect of certain triggers on the airways. This type of asthma is called Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS).

• #48

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  The high prevalence of occupational asthma among this workers are explained by that cleaning agents and detergents contain irritants like chlorine and ammonia, as well as possible sensitizers including quaternary ammonium compounds and fragrances. […] Both allergic and irritating processes are implicated in asthma development caused by cleaning chemicals and disinfectants; however, the irritant mechanisms are the most prominent. […] Several sociodemographic and work characteristics are associated with increased risk of developing occupational asthma. […] In the present study, female gender was significantly associated with development of occupational asthma. […] The implementation of exposure control tools resulted in a significant reduction in exposure; this resulted in the elimination of symptoms among IgE-positive workers as well as low rates of new sensitization in the workforce.

• #49 Work-related Asthma and Occupational Asthma – An introduction | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/work-related-asthma-and-occupational-asthma-introduction

  Several hundred agents have been identified to cause occupational asthma. […] The level of exposure to agents that cause occupational asthma is the major risk factor for the development of occupational asthma; therefore, reducing exposure is the lynchpin of prevention. […] Employers should arrange regular health surveillance for workers who are at risk of developing occupational asthma. […] A diagnosis of work-related asthma requires specialist investigation to determine whether or not work is either causing or aggravating someone’s asthma. […] If an employee has occupational asthma it is important that they avoid further exposure to the cause completely and early in the course of the disease.

• #50 Work-related asthma in the USA: nationally representative estimates with extended follow-up | Occupational & Environmental Medicine

  https://oem.bmj.com/content/77/9/617

  We studied the associations of working in occupations with high asthma trigger exposures with the prevalence and incidence of asthma, and with ever reporting an asthma diagnosis throughout working life. […] The adjusted prevalence ratio comparing high-risk occupations with low-risk was 4.1 (95% CI 3.5 to 4.8); the adjusted risk ratio was 2.6 (CI 1.8 to 3.9). […] Adults were more than twice as likely to report a new asthma diagnosis if their occupation involved asthma triggers. Work exposures to asthma triggers may cause or aggravate about 11% of all adult asthma and increase the risk of work-life asthma by 60%. […] People in certain occupations have a relatively high prevalence of asthma. […] In results from up to 48 years of follow-up, people in high-risk occupations were more than four times as likely to report an asthma diagnosis than people in low-risk occupations, more than twice as likely to report being newly diagnosed, and 60% more likely to report an asthma diagnosis during working life (ages 1865).

• #51 Work-related Asthma and Occupational Asthma – An introduction | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/work-related-asthma-and-occupational-asthma-introduction

  Work-related asthma is present when the timing of bouts of symptoms can be related to being at work. […] Occupational asthma accounts for as many as 15% of cases of adult-onset asthma. […] Sensitizer-induced occupational asthma is by far the most common type accounting for about 90% of all cases of occupational asthma. […] The symptoms of asthma are the same whatever the cause, although in the early stages of the disease a distinguishing feature of occupational asthma is that symptoms deteriorate when at work and improve regularly when away from work i.e. weekends and holidays. […] About two-thirds of people with occupational asthma also suffer from rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose) and/or conjunctivitis (itchy red eyes). […] The occupational groups at greatest risk for developing occupational asthma include: animal handlers, bakers and pastry makers, cleaners, nurses, chemical workers, food processing workers, hairdressers, health care workers, paint sprayers, woodworkers and welders.

• #52 The epidemiology of occupational asthma – PubMed

  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8143816/

  With the accelerating pace of new knowledge about occupational asthma, systematic epidemiological approaches have yielded important new insights into its clinical characteristics. […] Surveillance programmes estimate the number of exposed individuals and the number of incident cases, allowing us to perceive the magnitude of the health problem. […] Epidemiological techniques can quantify the importance of predisposing factors, such as atopy or cigarette smoking, in determining individual risk factors for occupational asthma. […] The goal of applying epidemiological techniques to the study of occupational asthma is ultimately to identify more effective means to prevent its occurrence.

• #53

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  The high prevalence of occupational asthma among this workers are explained by that cleaning agents and detergents contain irritants like chlorine and ammonia, as well as possible sensitizers including quaternary ammonium compounds and fragrances. […] Both allergic and irritating processes are implicated in asthma development caused by cleaning chemicals and disinfectants; however, the irritant mechanisms are the most prominent. […] Several sociodemographic and work characteristics are associated with increased risk of developing occupational asthma. […] In the present study, female gender was significantly associated with development of occupational asthma. […] The implementation of exposure control tools resulted in a significant reduction in exposure; this resulted in the elimination of symptoms among IgE-positive workers as well as low rates of new sensitization in the workforce.

• #54 Work-related asthma in the USA: nationally representative estimates with extended follow-up | Occupational & Environmental Medicine

  https://oem.bmj.com/content/77/9/617

  Consistent with our first hypothesis and previous estimates, people in high-risk occupations were more than four times as likely to report asthma diagnoses than people in low-risk occupations. […] We also found that WRA may account for about 11.3% of all adult asthma, based on the population attributable risk. […] More than one-third of women in high-risk occupations reported an asthma diagnosis during working life, compared with about 11% of men.

• #55 Standards of care for occupational asthma | Thorax

  https://thorax.bmj.com/content/63/3/240

  Occupational asthma remains a common disease in the UK with up to 3000 new cases diagnosed each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to our society to be over 1.1 billion for each 10-year period. […] The reported incidence of occupational asthma may be underestimated by as much as 50% (ES3* SIGN 3). […] Health surveillance can detect occupational asthma at an earlier stage of disease and the outcome is improved in workers who are included in a health surveillance programme (ES20* SIGN 3). […] Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma (ES16** SIGN 2+). […] Approximately one-third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis (ES49** SIGN 2). […] Workers with occupational asthma suffer financially (ES50** SIGN 2).

• #56 Standards of care for occupational asthma | Thorax

  https://thorax.bmj.com/content/63/3/240

  Occupational asthma remains a common disease in the UK with up to 3000 new cases diagnosed each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to our society to be over 1.1 billion for each 10-year period. […] The reported incidence of occupational asthma may be underestimated by as much as 50% (ES3* SIGN 3). […] Health surveillance can detect occupational asthma at an earlier stage of disease and the outcome is improved in workers who are included in a health surveillance programme (ES20* SIGN 3). […] Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma (ES16** SIGN 2+). […] Approximately one-third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis (ES49** SIGN 2). […] Workers with occupational asthma suffer financially (ES50** SIGN 2).

• #57 Standards of care for occupational asthma | Thorax

  https://thorax.bmj.com/content/63/3/240

  Occupational asthma remains a common disease in the UK with up to 3000 new cases diagnosed each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to our society to be over 1.1 billion for each 10-year period. […] The reported incidence of occupational asthma may be underestimated by as much as 50% (ES3* SIGN 3). […] Health surveillance can detect occupational asthma at an earlier stage of disease and the outcome is improved in workers who are included in a health surveillance programme (ES20* SIGN 3). […] Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma (ES16** SIGN 2+). […] Approximately one-third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis (ES49** SIGN 2). […] Workers with occupational asthma suffer financially (ES50** SIGN 2).

• #58 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma: Data, Statistics, and Reports

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/statistics.shtml

  This Web page contains work-related asthma (WRA) statistics from two sources: 1) the NJ Adult Asthma Call-Back Survey (ACBS) and 2) the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project. […] Results from the 2008-2010 NJ Asthma Call-Back Survey indicated that over 54,000 adult NJ residents reported being diagnosed by a health professional as having work-related asthma. Of these adults, 35,000 stated that they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. […] Yet, NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project has confirmed only 659 cases of work-related asthma since 1993, indicating that WRA may be greatly underreported. NJ law (N.J.A.C. 8:58) requires health care providers and hospitals to report WRA to the NJDOH for public health follow-up. […] In contrast to the estimates derived from the New Jersey ACBS, the NJDOH WRA Surveillance and Intervention Project identified and confirmed only 659 cases of WRA between the years 1993 through 2011. The large discrepancy between the number of identified cases and ACBS estimates is attributable to underrecognition and/or underreporting of the disease. Many employers and health care providers are not aware that exposures to certain substances might have adverse health effects on workers, especially those who are hypersensitive, even at levels well below legal (OSHA) exposure limits.

• #59 Occupational Asthma

  https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/allergy/occupational-asthma/

  The most important aspect in the treatment of OA is environmental control. Continued exposure can lead to persistent and irreversible airway obstruction, whereas early removal offers the best chance at complete recovery. […] Once the diagnosis of OA is made, that worker is 100% impaired for the job that caused the problem or for jobs with exposure to the same causative agent.

• #60

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  Occupational asthma can disrupt a patients daily life, interfering with professional, familial, and social activities. […] In our study, on comparing the subscales of asthma-related quality of life between asthmatic and non-asthmatic workers, among asthmatic workers, the mean scores of symptoms, activity limitations, and exposure to environmental stimuli were lower than that of non-asthmatic with statistically significant difference referring to lower quality of life among asthmatic regarding these domains. […] The total mean score of asthma-specific quality of life was significantly lower in asthmatic than non-asthmatic workers. […] Workers in detergent and cleaning products industry are at higher risk for developing occupational asthma.

• #61

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  Occupational asthma can disrupt a patients daily life, interfering with professional, familial, and social activities. […] In our study, on comparing the subscales of asthma-related quality of life between asthmatic and non-asthmatic workers, among asthmatic workers, the mean scores of symptoms, activity limitations, and exposure to environmental stimuli were lower than that of non-asthmatic with statistically significant difference referring to lower quality of life among asthmatic regarding these domains. […] The total mean score of asthma-specific quality of life was significantly lower in asthmatic than non-asthmatic workers. […] Workers in detergent and cleaning products industry are at higher risk for developing occupational asthma.

• #62

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  Occupational asthma can disrupt a patients daily life, interfering with professional, familial, and social activities. […] In our study, on comparing the subscales of asthma-related quality of life between asthmatic and non-asthmatic workers, among asthmatic workers, the mean scores of symptoms, activity limitations, and exposure to environmental stimuli were lower than that of non-asthmatic with statistically significant difference referring to lower quality of life among asthmatic regarding these domains. […] The total mean score of asthma-specific quality of life was significantly lower in asthmatic than non-asthmatic workers. […] Workers in detergent and cleaning products industry are at higher risk for developing occupational asthma.

• #63 Occupational asthma – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_asthma

  Occupational asthma is one of the most common occupational lung disease. Approximately 17% of all adult-onset asthma cases are related to occupational exposures. About one fourth of adults with asthma have work-exacerbated asthma. Patients with work-related asthma are more likely to experience asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and worsening of their asthma symptoms compared with other adult asthma patients. […] A number of diseases have symptoms that mimic occupational asthma, such as asthma due to nonoccupational causes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), irritable larynx syndrome, hyperventilation syndrome, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and bronchiolitis obliterans. […] Several forms of preventive measures have been suggested to prevent development of occupational asthma and also detect risk or disease early to allow intervention and improve outcomes. These include: comprehensive programs, education and training, medical examinations, use of medications, reduction of exposures and elimination of exposures. […] To diagnose occupational asthma it is necessary to confirm the symptoms of asthma and establish the causal connection with the work environment. Various diagnostic tests can be used to aid in diagnoses of work-related asthma.

• #64 Standards of care for occupational asthma | Thorax

  https://thorax.bmj.com/content/63/3/240

  Occupational asthma remains a common disease in the UK with up to 3000 new cases diagnosed each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to our society to be over 1.1 billion for each 10-year period. […] The reported incidence of occupational asthma may be underestimated by as much as 50% (ES3* SIGN 3). […] Health surveillance can detect occupational asthma at an earlier stage of disease and the outcome is improved in workers who are included in a health surveillance programme (ES20* SIGN 3). […] Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma (ES16** SIGN 2+). […] Approximately one-third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis (ES49** SIGN 2). […] Workers with occupational asthma suffer financially (ES50** SIGN 2).

• #65 Employers’ Guide to Occupational Asthma | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/employers-guide-occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work-related lung disease in the UK. […] Occupational asthma is caused by exposure to a substance in the air at work. […] Reducing airborne exposure levels reduces the incidence of occupational asthma. […] The best opportunity to reverse or improve occupational asthma occurs with early diagnosis, before lung function is too impaired and with early removal from further exposure to the causative agent. […] The most important measure is the primary prevention of occupational asthma by eliminating or reducing exposure to its causes at work. […] Secondary prevention involves detecting signs of asthma in employees at an early stage, ideally before they are aware of any symptoms. […] This is achieved by regular health surveillance and is important because: Outcome is improved in workers who are included in health surveillance programmes.

• #66

  https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/asthma.html

  The diagnosis of work-related asthma needs to be confirmed objectively. […] Although there are medical treatments that may control the symptoms of asthma, it is important to stop exposure wherever possible. […] Following the hierarchy of control, eliminating the trigger is the ideal way to prevent work-related asthma. […] The following tables list some of the occupations where asthma has been seen. It should be noted that these lists of occupational triggers that can cause asthma are not complete.

• #67 Employers’ Guide to Occupational Asthma | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/employers-guide-occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work-related lung disease in the UK. […] Occupational asthma is caused by exposure to a substance in the air at work. […] Reducing airborne exposure levels reduces the incidence of occupational asthma. […] The best opportunity to reverse or improve occupational asthma occurs with early diagnosis, before lung function is too impaired and with early removal from further exposure to the causative agent. […] The most important measure is the primary prevention of occupational asthma by eliminating or reducing exposure to its causes at work. […] Secondary prevention involves detecting signs of asthma in employees at an early stage, ideally before they are aware of any symptoms. […] This is achieved by regular health surveillance and is important because: Outcome is improved in workers who are included in health surveillance programmes.

• #68 Advice for employers – HSE

  https://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/employers.htm

  There are many things you can do as an employer to reduce the risk of occupational asthma in your workplace. […] Health surveillance means regularly looking for early signs of work related ill health and putting procedures in place to achieve this. […] All employees exposed or likely to be exposed to an asthmagen should receive suitable health surveillance. […] The law requires employers to report cases of occupational asthma to a central point.

• #69 Advice for employers – HSE

  https://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/employers.htm

  There are many things you can do as an employer to reduce the risk of occupational asthma in your workplace. […] Health surveillance means regularly looking for early signs of work related ill health and putting procedures in place to achieve this. […] All employees exposed or likely to be exposed to an asthmagen should receive suitable health surveillance. […] The law requires employers to report cases of occupational asthma to a central point.

• #70 Health Surveillance

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/bohrfviewheading.aspx?id=3

  Periodic health surveillance for occupational asthma aims to identify sensitised workers or cases of asthma at an early and reversible stage of the disease. […] Very few published reports have evaluated the components of surveillance used in occupational asthma. […] Methods commonly used in surveillance to identify cases of occupational asthma are respiratory questionnaire, spirometry (to measure FEV1 and FVC) and, where appropriate, identification of specific IgE by skin prick test or serology. […] There have been few small studies of case identification of occupational asthma through surveillance of workers at risk. […] Skin prick tests and serological tests can detect specific IgE in workers who have become sensitised to high molecular weight allergens and a few low molecular weight chemicals (complex platinum salts, acid anhydrides and some reactive dyes). […] Prospective surveillance for the development of specific IgE antibodies can be used as part of a broader risk management programme to reduce the incidence of occupational asthma.

• #71 Standards of care for occupational asthma | Thorax

  https://thorax.bmj.com/content/63/3/240

  Occupational asthma remains a common disease in the UK with up to 3000 new cases diagnosed each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the cost to our society to be over 1.1 billion for each 10-year period. […] The reported incidence of occupational asthma may be underestimated by as much as 50% (ES3* SIGN 3). […] Health surveillance can detect occupational asthma at an earlier stage of disease and the outcome is improved in workers who are included in a health surveillance programme (ES20* SIGN 3). […] Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma (ES16** SIGN 2+). […] Approximately one-third of workers with occupational asthma are unemployed up to 6 years after diagnosis (ES49** SIGN 2). […] Workers with occupational asthma suffer financially (ES50** SIGN 2).

• #72 Employers’ Guide to Occupational Asthma | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/employers-guide-occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work-related lung disease in the UK. […] Occupational asthma is caused by exposure to a substance in the air at work. […] Reducing airborne exposure levels reduces the incidence of occupational asthma. […] The best opportunity to reverse or improve occupational asthma occurs with early diagnosis, before lung function is too impaired and with early removal from further exposure to the causative agent. […] The most important measure is the primary prevention of occupational asthma by eliminating or reducing exposure to its causes at work. […] Secondary prevention involves detecting signs of asthma in employees at an early stage, ideally before they are aware of any symptoms. […] This is achieved by regular health surveillance and is important because: Outcome is improved in workers who are included in health surveillance programmes.

• #73 Health Surveillance

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/bohrfviewheading.aspx?id=3

  Periodic health surveillance for occupational asthma aims to identify sensitised workers or cases of asthma at an early and reversible stage of the disease. […] Very few published reports have evaluated the components of surveillance used in occupational asthma. […] Methods commonly used in surveillance to identify cases of occupational asthma are respiratory questionnaire, spirometry (to measure FEV1 and FVC) and, where appropriate, identification of specific IgE by skin prick test or serology. […] There have been few small studies of case identification of occupational asthma through surveillance of workers at risk. […] Skin prick tests and serological tests can detect specific IgE in workers who have become sensitised to high molecular weight allergens and a few low molecular weight chemicals (complex platinum salts, acid anhydrides and some reactive dyes). […] Prospective surveillance for the development of specific IgE antibodies can be used as part of a broader risk management programme to reduce the incidence of occupational asthma.

• #74 Health Surveillance

  https://www.occupationalasthma.com/bohrfviewheading.aspx?id=3

  Periodic health surveillance for occupational asthma aims to identify sensitised workers or cases of asthma at an early and reversible stage of the disease. […] Very few published reports have evaluated the components of surveillance used in occupational asthma. […] Methods commonly used in surveillance to identify cases of occupational asthma are respiratory questionnaire, spirometry (to measure FEV1 and FVC) and, where appropriate, identification of specific IgE by skin prick test or serology. […] There have been few small studies of case identification of occupational asthma through surveillance of workers at risk. […] Skin prick tests and serological tests can detect specific IgE in workers who have become sensitised to high molecular weight allergens and a few low molecular weight chemicals (complex platinum salts, acid anhydrides and some reactive dyes). […] Prospective surveillance for the development of specific IgE antibodies can be used as part of a broader risk management programme to reduce the incidence of occupational asthma.

• #75 Health surveillance for occupational asthma in the UK – White Rose Research Online

  https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/106438/

  Periodic health surveillance (HS) of workers can identify early cases of occupational asthma. […] To identify the overall levels of uptake and quality of HS for occupational asthma within three high risk industry sectors in the UK. […] About 77% employed 10 people, 17% between 10 and 50 and 6% 50. […] 14% carried out some form of HS for occupational asthma, rising to 19% if only organizations reporting asthma hazards and risks were considered. […] HS was carried out both by in-house (31%) and external providers (69%). […] Organizational policies were often used to define HS approaches (80%), but infrequently shared with the OH provider. […] OH providers described considerable variation in practice. […] This study provided new insights into the real world of HS for occupational asthma. […] We consider that future work could and should define simpler, more practical and evidence-based approaches to HS to ensure maximal consistency and use of high-quality approaches.

• #76 Health surveillance for occupational asthma in the UK – White Rose Research Online

  https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/106438/

  Periodic health surveillance (HS) of workers can identify early cases of occupational asthma. […] To identify the overall levels of uptake and quality of HS for occupational asthma within three high risk industry sectors in the UK. […] About 77% employed 10 people, 17% between 10 and 50 and 6% 50. […] 14% carried out some form of HS for occupational asthma, rising to 19% if only organizations reporting asthma hazards and risks were considered. […] HS was carried out both by in-house (31%) and external providers (69%). […] Organizational policies were often used to define HS approaches (80%), but infrequently shared with the OH provider. […] OH providers described considerable variation in practice. […] This study provided new insights into the real world of HS for occupational asthma. […] We consider that future work could and should define simpler, more practical and evidence-based approaches to HS to ensure maximal consistency and use of high-quality approaches.

• #77 Health surveillance for occupational asthma in the UK – White Rose Research Online

  https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/106438/

  Periodic health surveillance (HS) of workers can identify early cases of occupational asthma. […] To identify the overall levels of uptake and quality of HS for occupational asthma within three high risk industry sectors in the UK. […] About 77% employed 10 people, 17% between 10 and 50 and 6% 50. […] 14% carried out some form of HS for occupational asthma, rising to 19% if only organizations reporting asthma hazards and risks were considered. […] HS was carried out both by in-house (31%) and external providers (69%). […] Organizational policies were often used to define HS approaches (80%), but infrequently shared with the OH provider. […] OH providers described considerable variation in practice. […] This study provided new insights into the real world of HS for occupational asthma. […] We consider that future work could and should define simpler, more practical and evidence-based approaches to HS to ensure maximal consistency and use of high-quality approaches.

• #78

  https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/workplacehealth/pages/asthma.aspx

  In 2015, almost 340,000 Oregon adults were estimated to have current asthma. […] Substances or conditions in the workplace such as dust, chemicals and smoke cause or worsen WRA. Nationally, an estimated 15% of adult asthma is due to work-related exposures. […] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) funds California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York to conduct asthma surveillance. […] In 2013, 14 percent of currently employed Oregonians with asthma said that chemicals, smoke, fumes or dust at their current job caused their asthma and 24 percent of respondents said those substances caused asthma or made their asthma worse. […] Putting Data to Work is a quarterly publication by OPHP that provides readers with concise descriptions of work-related issues. It provides a scope of the problem summary, epidemiological data, description and/or diagnosis of the injury/illness, case summary, prevention recommendations, conclusions, resources, and references.

• #79 What’s New

  https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/WRAPP/Pages/WRAPP.aspx

  The California Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program (WRAPP) aims to identify industries, occupations, and exposures that put workers at risk for work-related asthma. By identifying and understanding the risk factors, we can find new ways to help employers and workers prevent work-related asthma. […] The Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program: […] Collects information from doctors, hospitals, and workers’ compensation to identify cases […] Performs telephone interviews to gather more information about cases and workplace risk factors […] Carries out worksite investigations to identify hazards and make recommendations for prevention […] Distributes findings, recommendations, and health education materials to workers, employers, and many other audiences […] Findings from Statewide Tracking […] Burden of Asthma in California (PDF) […] California County Asthma Profiles […] NIOSH Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance System […] Work-Related Asthma Publications.

• #80 What’s New

  https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/WRAPP/Pages/WRAPP.aspx

  The California Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program (WRAPP) aims to identify industries, occupations, and exposures that put workers at risk for work-related asthma. By identifying and understanding the risk factors, we can find new ways to help employers and workers prevent work-related asthma. […] The Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program: […] Collects information from doctors, hospitals, and workers’ compensation to identify cases […] Performs telephone interviews to gather more information about cases and workplace risk factors […] Carries out worksite investigations to identify hazards and make recommendations for prevention […] Distributes findings, recommendations, and health education materials to workers, employers, and many other audiences […] Findings from Statewide Tracking […] Burden of Asthma in California (PDF) […] California County Asthma Profiles […] NIOSH Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance System […] Work-Related Asthma Publications.

• #81 AAIR :: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research

  https://e-aair.org/DOIx.php?id=10.4168/aair.2015.7.1.51

  To determine the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of work-related asthma in Korea. […] During 2004-2009, the Korea Work-Related Asthma Surveillance (KOWAS) program collected data on new cases of work-related asthma from occupational physicians, allergy and chest physicians, regional surveillance systems, and workers’ compensation schemes. […] The overall average annual incidence was 3.31 cases/million workers, with a rate of 3.78/million among men and 2.58/million among women. […] The incidence of work-related asthma in Korea was relatively low, and varied according to industry, occupation, gender, age, and region. […] Data provided by workers’ compensation schemes and physician reports have been useful for determining the incidence and causes of work-related asthma. […] The average WRA incidence of 3.31/million reported in our study was lower than those reported by surveillance systems in other countries, which ranged from 5-174/million workers.

• #82 Work-related Asthma | Surveillance | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveillance/respiratorydisease/work-related-asthma.html

  The following states were funded by NIOSH during the 20212026 State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program. This funding cycle is for case-based work-related asthma (WRA) surveillance. […] The ascertainment source for work-related asthma cases varies by state. Massachusetts, Michigan, California, and Washington all ascertain WRA cases from workers’ compensation data. […] State surveillance includes demographic, work-history, and medical information for case confirmation, classification, and description. This is done through a combination of: […] Find guidelines for identifying and reporting cases on the WRA State Reporting Guidelines page. […] NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database. It contains safety and health publications supported in whole or in part by NIOSH. […] Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Occupational Health Indicators.

• #83 Work-related Asthma | Surveillance | CDC

  https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveillance/respiratorydisease/work-related-asthma.html

  The following states were funded by NIOSH during the 20212026 State-Based Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance Program. This funding cycle is for case-based work-related asthma (WRA) surveillance. […] The ascertainment source for work-related asthma cases varies by state. Massachusetts, Michigan, California, and Washington all ascertain WRA cases from workers’ compensation data. […] State surveillance includes demographic, work-history, and medical information for case confirmation, classification, and description. This is done through a combination of: […] Find guidelines for identifying and reporting cases on the WRA State Reporting Guidelines page. […] NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable bibliographic database. It contains safety and health publications supported in whole or in part by NIOSH. […] Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Occupational Health Indicators.

• #84 Occupational Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma can be categorised into:2 […] The true frequency of occupational asthma is not known but under-reporting is likely. It is estimated that occupational asthma may account for about 9-15% of adult-onset asthma. […] Several hundred occupational agents, mainly allergens but also irritants and substances with unknown pathological mechanisms, have been identified as causing work-related asthma. […] The diagnosis of occupational asthma should be suspected in all adults with symptoms of airflow limitation and it should be positively searched for in those with high-risk occupations or exposures. […] Early diagnosis is the key to reducing morbidity. […] The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require an employer to identify all exposures at work, to assess and prevent or control risks and to give workers information about any risks and the methods for controlling them.

• #85 Health Surveillance for Occupational Asthma | Croner

  https://croner.co.uk/resources/health-safety/health-surveillance-for-occupational-asthma/

  Occupational asthma is one such condition that can develop as a result of working with certain substances, including substances hazardous to health, especially in industries like construction and metal work. […] By law, employers are required to complete health surveillance if their employees are exposed to health risks, even after you’ve put protective measures in place to mitigate risks. […] Carrying out risk assessments and health surveillance for occupational asthma can help you identify symptoms earlier and adapt or reduce your employee’s exposure to substances. This will, in turn, reduce your employees risk of developing occupational asthma. […] You can manage the risks involved with occupational asthma, by introducing health surveillance to your health and safety process. […] You should conduct these surveys annually in order to manage any ill health that may develop as a result of employees working with substances at work known to exacerbate asthma and related respiratory conditions. […] If the control measures start to become ineffective, employers should reassess the use of the materials, implement measures to help protect their employees and carry out health surveillance for not occupational asthma.

• #86

  https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/workplacehealth/pages/asthma.aspx

  From the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma Immunology, this brochure provides a summary of useful facts about occupational asthma, including some common substances that cause WRA. […] The Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauv en Sant et en Securit du Travail (IRSST) has published a useful fact sheet (in English) about WRA and adapted it to address risks and prevention strategies in specific industries: baking and pastry arts, carpentry and joinery, dental hygiene, plastering, plumbing and heating, and animal health.

• #87 Occupational Asthma | SpringerLink

  https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-7643-8556-9

  Recent developments in occupational asthma research and clinical practice are the focus of this publication. […] It discusses the contribution of occupational exposures to chemical and biological agents to the burden of asthma in adults, powerful approaches like the use of apprentices studies, which include young individuals, nave with regard to occupational exposures, and diagnostic criteria for work related and work aggravated asthma. […] Management, prevention and surveillance are covered as well. […] Diagnostic rules are introduced to rationalize the diagnostic workup and improve the cost benefit of surveillance schemes. […] Issues in the design of population studies are discussed to assist the readers in designing and conducting their own study. […] This comprehensive volume presents new developments changing the occupational asthma field in the coming years.

• #88 Occupational asthma: Definitions, epidemiology, causes, and risk factors – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/occupational-asthma-definitions-epidemiology-causes-and-risk-factors

  Occupational asthma accounts for approximately 10 to 25 percent of adult onset asthma. […] The definition, epidemiology, causes, and risk factors of OA are reviewed here. […] Occupational asthma (OA) begins during adulthood and is induced by exposure to immunologic or nonimmunologic stimuli found in the workplace.

• #89 Employers’ Guide to Occupational Asthma | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/employers-guide-occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work-related lung disease in the UK. […] Occupational asthma is caused by exposure to a substance in the air at work. […] Reducing airborne exposure levels reduces the incidence of occupational asthma. […] The best opportunity to reverse or improve occupational asthma occurs with early diagnosis, before lung function is too impaired and with early removal from further exposure to the causative agent. […] The most important measure is the primary prevention of occupational asthma by eliminating or reducing exposure to its causes at work. […] Secondary prevention involves detecting signs of asthma in employees at an early stage, ideally before they are aware of any symptoms. […] This is achieved by regular health surveillance and is important because: Outcome is improved in workers who are included in health surveillance programmes.

• #90 Occupational Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma can be categorised into:2 […] The true frequency of occupational asthma is not known but under-reporting is likely. It is estimated that occupational asthma may account for about 9-15% of adult-onset asthma. […] Several hundred occupational agents, mainly allergens but also irritants and substances with unknown pathological mechanisms, have been identified as causing work-related asthma. […] The diagnosis of occupational asthma should be suspected in all adults with symptoms of airflow limitation and it should be positively searched for in those with high-risk occupations or exposures. […] Early diagnosis is the key to reducing morbidity. […] The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require an employer to identify all exposures at work, to assess and prevent or control risks and to give workers information about any risks and the methods for controlling them.

• #91 Occupational Asthma: Symptoms and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma can be categorised into:2 […] The true frequency of occupational asthma is not known but under-reporting is likely. It is estimated that occupational asthma may account for about 9-15% of adult-onset asthma. […] Several hundred occupational agents, mainly allergens but also irritants and substances with unknown pathological mechanisms, have been identified as causing work-related asthma. […] The diagnosis of occupational asthma should be suspected in all adults with symptoms of airflow limitation and it should be positively searched for in those with high-risk occupations or exposures. […] Early diagnosis is the key to reducing morbidity. […] The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations require an employer to identify all exposures at work, to assess and prevent or control risks and to give workers information about any risks and the methods for controlling them.

• #92 Employers’ Guide to Occupational Asthma | The Society of Occupational Medicine

  https://www.som.org.uk/employers-guide-occupational-asthma

  Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work-related lung disease in the UK. […] Occupational asthma is caused by exposure to a substance in the air at work. […] Reducing airborne exposure levels reduces the incidence of occupational asthma. […] The best opportunity to reverse or improve occupational asthma occurs with early diagnosis, before lung function is too impaired and with early removal from further exposure to the causative agent. […] The most important measure is the primary prevention of occupational asthma by eliminating or reducing exposure to its causes at work. […] Secondary prevention involves detecting signs of asthma in employees at an early stage, ideally before they are aware of any symptoms. […] This is achieved by regular health surveillance and is important because: Outcome is improved in workers who are included in health surveillance programmes.

• #93

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-18558-8

  The high prevalence of occupational asthma among this workers are explained by that cleaning agents and detergents contain irritants like chlorine and ammonia, as well as possible sensitizers including quaternary ammonium compounds and fragrances. […] Both allergic and irritating processes are implicated in asthma development caused by cleaning chemicals and disinfectants; however, the irritant mechanisms are the most prominent. […] Several sociodemographic and work characteristics are associated with increased risk of developing occupational asthma. […] In the present study, female gender was significantly associated with development of occupational asthma. […] The implementation of exposure control tools resulted in a significant reduction in exposure; this resulted in the elimination of symptoms among IgE-positive workers as well as low rates of new sensitization in the workforce.

• #94

  https://journals.lww.com/joem/fulltext/2017/12001/incidence_of_occupational_asthma_and_exposure_to.3.aspx

  Occupational exposure to diisocyanates may increase a worker’s risk for health outcomes including respiratory symptoms, sensitization to diisocyanates, and asthma. […] There is evidence from surveillance reports of declining trends in occupational asthma during the 1990s in the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, and Canada. […] Reviews of workplace studies indicate also that incidence rates of TDI-induced asthma have declined. […] These favorable trends appear to be related to a reduction in workplace exposures through engineering controls and changes in work practices as well as medical surveillance practices. […] Occupational surveillance programs are often established for agents with sensitizing potential like TDI. […] We examine a TDI medical surveillance program implemented across three TDI production plants in the United States to determine the incidence rate of TDI-induced asthma over a 5-year period.

• #95

  https://journals.lww.com/joem/fulltext/2017/12001/incidence_of_occupational_asthma_and_exposure_to.3.aspx

  Occupational exposure to diisocyanates may increase a worker’s risk for health outcomes including respiratory symptoms, sensitization to diisocyanates, and asthma. […] There is evidence from surveillance reports of declining trends in occupational asthma during the 1990s in the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, and Canada. […] Reviews of workplace studies indicate also that incidence rates of TDI-induced asthma have declined. […] These favorable trends appear to be related to a reduction in workplace exposures through engineering controls and changes in work practices as well as medical surveillance practices. […] Occupational surveillance programs are often established for agents with sensitizing potential like TDI. […] We examine a TDI medical surveillance program implemented across three TDI production plants in the United States to determine the incidence rate of TDI-induced asthma over a 5-year period.

• #96 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma Guidance for Workers

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/

  Work-related asthma is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Many of those affected said they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. More than 300 substances used in the workplace are known to either cause asthma in healthy workers or aggravate asthma in those who already have the condition. […] Work-related asthma can be prevented. New Jersey law requires physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses to report work-related asthma cases for proper public health follow-up. […] If you think you have might have work-related asthma, you need to: Talk to your doctor about your asthma and your work. Ask your doctor to report your asthma to NJDOH. New Jersey law requires physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to report cases of work-related asthma. […] Work-related asthma is usually reversible. But permanent lung damage, or even death, can occur if exposure to the substance that causes the disease continues. In some workers, very small amounts of the substance can cause an asthma attack. […] Work-Related Asthma Statistics.

• #97 Department of Health | Workplace Health and Safety | Work-Related Asthma Guidance for Workers

  https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/work-related-asthma/

  Work-related asthma is a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Many of those affected said they had to change or quit their job due to work-related asthma. More than 300 substances used in the workplace are known to either cause asthma in healthy workers or aggravate asthma in those who already have the condition. […] Work-related asthma can be prevented. New Jersey law requires physicians, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses to report work-related asthma cases for proper public health follow-up. […] If you think you have might have work-related asthma, you need to: Talk to your doctor about your asthma and your work. Ask your doctor to report your asthma to NJDOH. New Jersey law requires physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to report cases of work-related asthma. […] Work-related asthma is usually reversible. But permanent lung damage, or even death, can occur if exposure to the substance that causes the disease continues. In some workers, very small amounts of the substance can cause an asthma attack. […] Work-Related Asthma Statistics.

• #98 Progress in Occupational Asthma

  https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4553

  Occupational asthma (OA) represents one of the major public health problems due to its high prevalence, important social and economic burden. The aim of this review is to summarize current data about clinical phenotypes, biomarkers, diagnosis and management of OA, a subtype of work-related asthma. […] More than 400 agents causing OA have been identified and its list is growing fast. The best diagnostic approach for OA is a combination of clinical history and objective tests. An important tool is a specific inhalation challenge. […] The diagnosis of OA is difficult, requiring confirmation for the diagnosis of asthma, plus evidence that the asthma was caused by workplace conditions. An accurate diagnosis of OA is a very important viewing of the significant health consequences for affected workers, but also the substantial socio-economic impact.

• #99 Progress in Occupational Asthma

  https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4553

  Occupational asthma (OA) represents one of the major public health problems due to its high prevalence, important social and economic burden. The aim of this review is to summarize current data about clinical phenotypes, biomarkers, diagnosis and management of OA, a subtype of work-related asthma. […] More than 400 agents causing OA have been identified and its list is growing fast. The best diagnostic approach for OA is a combination of clinical history and objective tests. An important tool is a specific inhalation challenge. […] The diagnosis of OA is difficult, requiring confirmation for the diagnosis of asthma, plus evidence that the asthma was caused by workplace conditions. An accurate diagnosis of OA is a very important viewing of the significant health consequences for affected workers, but also the substantial socio-economic impact.

• #100 Progress in Occupational Asthma

  https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4553

  The typical history of OA is the appearance or worsening of asthma symptoms at work and their improvement outside the work environment. However, asthma symptoms could be present outside the workplace as late asthmatic reactions or triggered by non-specific stimuli like cold air, fumes or exercise. […] The pharmacologic therapy relies on a stepwise approach and is conducted according to the management guidelines. It is aimed to achieve good control of symptoms and minimize the future risk. […] Primary, secondary and tertiary preventive measures could reduce the incidence and severity of SI-OA. […] The optimal management of OA should include preventive measures, follow-up programs, medical evaluation, education of workers and treatment compliance. […] Recognizing asthma occupational triggers in the workplace, early diagnosis and removal of the workers from the exposure, education and development of institutional medical-surveillance programs for workers at risk could improve OA outcomes.

• #101 Progress in Occupational Asthma

  https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/12/4553

  The typical history of OA is the appearance or worsening of asthma symptoms at work and their improvement outside the work environment. However, asthma symptoms could be present outside the workplace as late asthmatic reactions or triggered by non-specific stimuli like cold air, fumes or exercise. […] The pharmacologic therapy relies on a stepwise approach and is conducted according to the management guidelines. It is aimed to achieve good control of symptoms and minimize the future risk. […] Primary, secondary and tertiary preventive measures could reduce the incidence and severity of SI-OA. […] The optimal management of OA should include preventive measures, follow-up programs, medical evaluation, education of workers and treatment compliance. […] Recognizing asthma occupational triggers in the workplace, early diagnosis and removal of the workers from the exposure, education and development of institutional medical-surveillance programs for workers at risk could improve OA outcomes.

Zobacz więcej