Asthma at Work

Work-related asthma is fast becoming one of the most commonly diagnosed occupational respiratory diseases in the US, a new study has found. An analysis of survey responses from nearly 21,000 adults, published in the June issue of the American Journal of Public Health, revealed that men and women who work in printing or publishing, furniture or lumber, health care, and entertainment and recreation, were most likely to be diagnosed with asthma, as are those who work for automobile dealers and gas stations. 'This study stresses that workers employed in these industries need to be informed by the employer and aware that they are potentially exposed to asthmagens and the seriousness of their effect,' said study author Dr Ki Moon Bang of the US government occupational health research body NIOSH. According to the American Thoracic Society, an estimated 15 per cent of all adult cases of asthma may be related to the workplace. Based on this estimate, Bang and colleagues write, approximately 1.3 million adult asthma cases could be attributed to occupational exposure. 'This article should increase awareness among employers and workers about increased risk of asthma in specific industries,' said Bang. The US prevalence estimates are in line with those for the UK highlighted in the TUC’s 1995 book, Asthma at work: Causes, effects and what to do about them.

courtesy of the UK TUC Risks 212 and Labour Headline News Digest which is a service of LabourUnions.com.