Occupational Asthma

Tight chest? Wheezing? Shortness of breath? You may have Occupational Asthma or you may refer to it as Work Related Asthma.

Occupational_Asthma_claim_online.gifOccupational asthma is a disease characterised by variable occupational_asthma.jpgairflow limitation and/or airway hyper responsiveness due to causes and conditions attributable to a particular occupational environment and not to stimuli encountered outside the workplace

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Occupational Asthma (Work Related Asthma) can be outlined in two categories, as follows:

  • Occupational Asthma - This is caused by breathing in substances at work. These substances then produce a hypersensitive reaction in the airways. Exposure will not necessarily affect everybody, however, once the lungs become hypersensitive further exposure to the substance may provoke an attack, even at quite low levels of exposure.
  • Work Related Asthma - This affects people who have pre-existing Asthma and then become exposed to substances in the workplace. Respiratory irritants such as chlorine, general dust or even cold air may provoke an attack. With Work Related Asthma the individual will not become sensitised to that specific substance but the attack is work-related.

Symptoms of Occupational Asthma (Work Related Asthma)

Shortness of breath, wheezing, a dry cough & tightening of the chest are all symptoms. The symptoms may develop immediately after exposure or can sometimes can be delayed, therefore the link between Asthma and work may not always be obvious.

Common causes of Occupational Asthma (Work Related Asthma)

Platinum salts, Proteolytic enzymes, Insects and animals in laboratories, Manufacturing of Antibiotics, Flour and grain dust, Caster bean Dust, Carbon dust, Cimetidine used in cimetidine tablet manufacturing, Epoxy resin curing agents, Ispaghula used in laxative manufacturing, Isocyanates, Azodicarbonanide used in plastics manufacturing, Cedar, oak & mahogany dusts (hardwood), Colophony fumes, Ipecacuanha used in the manufacturing of tablets.

Jobs where Occupational Asthma is Common (Work Related Asthma)

Foam Manufacturing, Milling, Electronics, Healthcare, Vehicle Spray Painting, Moulding and adhesive bonding, Paper making, Bakers/Flour Mill, Offshore workers, Agricultural, Animal research laboratory & educational activities, Dock handling.

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