Comments |
Immunologic asthma develops after a variable period of time during which sensitization to an agent present in the workplace takes place. Immunologic asthma can be classified as that caused by high-molecular or low-molecular weight compounds. To make the diagnosis of occupational asthma, one must first confirm the presence of airway hyperreactivity. [Sullivan, p. 218] In Norway from 1995-1999, an average of 223 annual cases were reported with the highest incidence in the primary aluminum industry, and in bakers, car painters, and welders. [PMID 16142736] In 1993-1997 surveillance data from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey, 16% of cases were health-care workers, many of them nurses, with cleaning products, latex, and poor air quality the most frequently reported exposures. In the updated report for 1993-2000, 9% of work-related asthma cases were reported in educational services due to indoor air pollutants, unspecified mold, dusts, and cleaning products. [PMID 15712261 and 18033692] |