ASTHMA & THE WORKPLACE
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can be successfully controlled with proper care. Common symptoms include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Five steps people with asthma can take to help stay healthy and lead fully active lives:
In the U.S., an estimated 15% of adult asthma is related to occupational factors. Occupational asthma includes "new-onset" asthma, or asthma that occurs for the first time in response to allergens or irritants in the workplace, and "work-aggravated" asthma, or pre-existing asthma made worse by workplace exposure.
Workers most likely to develop the disease are those with a personal or family history of allergies or asthma and frequent exposure to highly sensitizing substances, but the disease can also develop in individuals with no known allergies.
The primary industries for occupational asthma are: transportation, equipment manufacturing, health services and educational services. Laborers represent 33% of cases, management and professionals 20%, and technical and administrative support workers 19%.
The top reported exposure agents are: chemicals, indoor air pollution, dust, cleaning materials, cutting oils, smoke, paint, latex and mold.
