Work-Related Asthma

WHAT IS WORK-RELATED ASTHMA?

In California, an estimated 137,000 adults have work-related asthma (WRA), defined as asthma that is triggered by exposures in the workplace. This includes new asthma that develops due to conditions at work, as well as pre-existing asthma that is worsened by workplace expsoures. There are over 400 recognized asthma triggers in the workplace, including many chemicals used in manufacturing, paints and cleaning products; dusts from wood, grain and flour; latex gloves; certain molds; animals; and insects. Asthma is suspected to be work-related when there is a correclation between development of asthma symptoms and exposure at work or worsening of asthma symptoms upon returning to work after being away for several days.

Addressing many of the exposures, occupations and industries at highest risk for WRA may help prevent other cases of asthma that are not work-related. For example, exposures in schools affect workers such as teachers or janitors, as well as children. Similarly, exposures affecting nurses in a health care setting may also affect patients.