Occupational Asthma Asthma and your occupation: Approximately 15 percent of adults with asthma experience occupational asthma. Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by exposure to inhaled irritants in the workplace. Occupational asthma is often a reversible condition, which means the symptoms may disappear when the irritants that caused the asthma are avoided. However, permanent damage can result if the person experiences prolonged exposure. Examples of workplace irritants include: ú dusts ú gases ú fumes asthma allergy center central illinois asthma allergy center central illinois ú vapors What are the symptoms of occupational asthma? Occupational asthma often begins with a cough or other asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and chest tightness, that may occur during exposure to the irritant(s) at work. Sometimes, occupational asthma symptoms do not appear until several hours after the exposure, even while at home after work. At the onset of the disease, symptoms may subside during weekends and vacations. However, during later stages of occupational asthma, asthma symptoms cultural beliefs of asthma asthma allergy center central illinois may begin occurring during exposure to other, more common asthma triggers, such as smoke, dust, and temperature changes. What substances cause occupational asthma? Although new substances are developed every day that may cause occupational asthma, some known airborne irritants in the workplace include: Irritant Examples Type of occupations / environments at risk chemical dusts and vapors isocyanates, trimellitic anhydride, phthalic anhydride manufacturers of foam mattresses and upholstery, insulation, packaging materials, plasticizers, polyurethane paint animal substances bacterial dusts, asthma drug therapy asthma allergy center central illinois dander, hair, mites, protein dusts, small insects farmers, animal handlers, kennel workers, jockeys, veterinarians, organic dusts cereals, coffee, flour, grains, tea millers, bakers, and other food processors cotton, flax, and hemp dust dusts from cotton and textile industry cotton and textile workers metals chromium, nickel sulfate, platinum, soldering fumes manufacturers of metals and refineries Source: American Lung Association How can occupational asthma be prevented? Avoidance of triggers is the best prevention against asthma. If occupational asthma symptoms do aspirin sensitive asthma asthma allergy center central illinois occur, you
