Work-related and occupational asthma

2013 ◽  
pp. 327-331
Author(s):  
Eleftherios Zervas ◽  
Mina Gaga
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Work Related

Predictors of work-related symptoms, allergic sensitisation and occupational asthma among supermarket bakery workers in South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol &NA; ◽  
pp. S71-S72
Author(s):  
Roslynn Baatjies ◽  
Andreas Lopata ◽  
Ingrid Sander ◽  
Monika Raulf-Heimsoth ◽  
Eric Bateman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Allergic Sensitisation

scholarly journals Methodological evaluation of human research on asthmagenicity and occupational cleaning: a case study of quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”)

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy S. LaKind ◽  
Michael Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Quaternary Ammonium ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Challenge Test ◽  
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Potential Link ◽  
State Of The Science ◽  
Ammonium Compounds

AbstractIn this paper, we review methodological approaches used in studies that evaluated the association between occupational exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) and occupational asthma. This association is of interest because quats are a common active ingredient of disinfectants and have been linked to work-related asthma in some circumstances. However, any evidence-based assessment of an exposure-outcome association needs to consider both strengths and limitations of the literature. We focus on publications cited by various US and international organizations. Eighteen investigations included in the review fall into two broad categories: case reports and challenge studies of individual patients and population studies that examined the association between quats and asthma occurrence in groups of subjects. We evaluated these studies guided by questions that address whether: exposure data on specific quat(s) and other agents that may cause asthma were included, new asthma cases were differentiated from asthma exacerbation, and information on respiratory sensitivity versus irritation was given. We also assessed consistency across studies. Studies of individual patients, particularly those that provided detailed information on challenge test results, document cases of asthma induced by exposure to quats. By contrast, studies of occupational groups with the highest potential for quats exposure (e.g., cleaners and farmers) do not consistently report increased incidence of asthma due specifically to quats. The unresolved methodological issues include: poor understanding of exposure pathways considering that quats are non-volatile, lack of quantitative data allowing for identification of an asthmagenicity threshold, insufficient information on whether quats are sensitizers or act via dose-dependent irritation or some other mechanism, and inability to quantify risk of new-onset asthma attributable to quats. Another important area of uncertainty is the lack of information on the specific quats being used. There is also a lack of data capable of distinguishing the effects of quats from those of other chemical and biological workplace exposures. The current state-of-the-science does not allow a proper assessment of the potential link between quats and occupational asthma.

scholarly journals Barriers to the Recognition and Reporting of Occupational Asthma by Canadian Pulmonologists

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Parhar ◽  
Catherine Lemiere ◽  
Jeremy R Beach
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Inhalation Challenge ◽  
Patient Concerns ◽  
Analogue Scales ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
New Onset

BACKGROUND: Occupational asthma is a common, but probably under-recognized problem.OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors that suggest work-related asthma when a pulmonologist encounters an adult patient with new-onset asthma, and to identify the barriers to recognizing and reporting such cases.METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to all pulmonologists in Canada. The questionnaire asked participants to respond to several questions about recognizing, diagnosing and reporting occupational asthma. Answers were scored using visual analogue scales.RESULTS: A total of 201 eligible responses were received from 458 pulmonologists. Pulmonologists identified that the most important factor in initially considering the role of work in occupational asthma was having seen others affected at the same workplace, or exposed to the same agent. Important perceived barriers to considering a diagnosis of occupational asthma were physicians’ low awareness, lack of knowledge and time. The most important barriers to reporting cases were the pulmonologists’ perceived patient concerns regarding job security and income. Quebec pulmonologists generally perceived barriers to recognizing and reporting occupational asthma to be less important, and believed that the use of specific inhalation challenge was more important in considering a diagnosis.CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonologists most readily recognized occupational asthma caused by a substance or process that they previously encountered as a possible cause of asthma. Time constraints and knowledge may hamper their ability to recognize occupational asthma. Concerns regarding the effect of the diagnosis on the patient’s job and income may discourage reporting.

scholarly journals Work-Related Asthma: A Case-Based Guide

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e57-e61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M Tarlo ◽  
André Cartier ◽  
Catherine Lemière ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Consensus Statement ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Careful Investigation ◽  
Case Based

Work-related asthma is common yet underdiagnosed. It is a significant cause of morbidity and socioeconomic loss. Diagnosis is often difficult, and requires a strong index of suspicion and careful investigation. The Canadian Thoracic Society has endorsed the recent American College of Chest Physicians consensus statement on work-related asthma. The present document illustrates the advised approach to diagnosis and management of work-related asthma using case-based examples of occupational asthma and work-exacerbated asthma. The main statements of advice from the American College of Chest Physicians consensus statement are reproduced with permission.

scholarly journals Work-related asthma

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200577
Author(s):  
Lavinia Clara Del Roio1 ◽  
Rafael Futoshi Mizutani2 ◽  
Regina Carvalho Pinto3 ◽  
Mário Terra-Filho4 ◽  
Ubiratan Paula Santos2
Keyword(s):  
Early Treatment ◽  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Adult Onset ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Workplace Conditions ◽  
Different Types

Work-related asthma (WRA) is highly prevalent in the adult population. WRA includes occupational asthma (OA), which is asthma caused by workplace exposures, and work-exacerbated asthma (WEA), also known as work-aggravated asthma, which is preexisting or concurrent asthma worsened by workplace conditions. In adults, the estimated prevalence of OA is 16.0%, whereas that of WEA is 21.5%. An increasing number of chemicals used in industrial production, households, and services are associated with the incidence of adult-onset asthma attributable to exposure to chemicals. This review article summarizes the different types of WRA and describes diagnostic procedures, treatment, prevention, and approaches to patient management. It is not always easy to distinguish between OA and WEA. It is important to establish a diagnosis (of sensitizer-/irritant-induced OA or WEA) in order to prevent worsening of symptoms, as well as to prevent other workers from being exposed, by providing early treatment and counseling on social security and work-related issues.

Occupational asthma

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cormier ◽  
C. Lemière
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
De Novo ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Persistent Asthma ◽  
Early Management ◽  
Work Related ◽  
High Level

Work-related asthma is highly prevalent and represents a significant societal and financial burden worldwide. This State of the Art series article explores the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of occupational asthma (OA), which comprises sensitiser-induced asthma and irritant-induced asthma (IIA). Sensitiser-induced OA is the development of asthma through sensitisation to a substance in the workplace. OA is largely underdiagnosed, and its clinical manifestations are non-specific, which makes its diagnosis challenging. Early and accurate diagnosis of OA through comprehensive testing is primordial to avoid unwarranted removal from exposure and to allow early management of confirmed cases. Despite optimal management, up to 70% of patients with OA will have persistent asthma several years after diagnosis. IIA classically refers to the development of de novo asthma acutely following an intense exposure to an irritant agent. However, some cases of IIA following multiple high-level exposures or a chronic low-dose exposure have been reported.

scholarly journals Pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) may cause occupational asthma

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milene Torp Madsen ◽  
Lars Rauff Skadhauge ◽  
Anders Daldorph Nielsen ◽  
Jesper Baelum ◽  
David Lee Sherson
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Pyromellitic Dianhydride ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
European Respiratory Society ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Forced Expiratory Flow ◽  
Lactose Powder

IntroductionAnhydrides are widely used as cross-linking agents in epoxy resins and alkyd production, for example, as coatings and adhesives in plastic products. Sensitisation to several anhydrides is known to cause occupational asthma. There are indications that the lesser known pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) can cause irritative respiratory symptoms and possibly asthma. We report three cases of workers from a plastic foil manufacturing plant, who developed asthma when exposed to PMDA during specific inhalation challenge (SIC).MethodsSIC was performed over 2 days according to recommendations of European Respiratory Society. Lactose powder was used in control challenges and a mixture of 10% PMDA and 90% lactose powder in active challenges.ResultsAll cases experienced a delayed decrease in forced expiratory flow in 1 s (FEV1) 4–12 hours after active challenge. FEV1 decreased by 19%, 15% and 16%, respectively. After 21 hours, FEV1 decreased by 24% in one worker.DiscussionRespiratory symptoms after working hours may represent delayed work-related asthma. During SIC, the three patients developed lower respiratory symptoms and a delayed decrease in FEV1 which suggest sensitisation. The mechanism of anhydride-related asthma is not well understood. Anhydrides are known irritants and hence an irritative response cannot be excluded. The company improved ventilation and enforced the use of respiratory protection equipment, and finally phased out PMDA. Occupational workplace risk identification may help to identify exposures. SIC can contribute to improving working conditions, by identifying and confirming asthmogens in the environment.

scholarly journals Work-Related Asthma in Automobile Spray Painters: Two Case Reports

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan Minov ◽  
Jovanka Karadžinska-Bislimovska ◽  
Kristin Vasilevska ◽  
Snežana Risteska-Kuc ◽  
Sašo Stoleski
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Asthma ◽  
Diagnostic Procedure ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
The Other ◽  
Respiratory Impairment ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of

Work-Related Asthma in Automobile Spray Painters: Two Case ReportsThis report describes two patients who had developed asthma after working as automobile painters with isocyanate-based aerosol paint for two years or over. In both patients asthma was confirmed using the standard diagnostic procedure. One of the subjects was atopic. One was ex-smoker and the other had never smoked. Neither had a family history of asthma. The symptoms occurred after workplace exposure lasting two years in one patient and three in the other. As both reported work-relatedness of the symptoms, they underwent serial peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurement and bronchoprovocation testing. Significant work-related changes in PEFR diurnal variations and in non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (NSBH) were observed in one patient, suggesting allergic occupational asthma (OA), while the other patient was diagnosed work-exacerbated asthma (WEA). Our data confirm that spray painting is an occupation with increased risk of respiratory impairment and asthma.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document