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Asthma

Definition

• Occupational asthma, one form of asthma, is a lung disease in which the airways overreact to dusts, vapors, gases, or fumes that exist in the workplace. Symptoms include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, coughing and shortness of breath.

Additional Info

Hundreds of different substances in the workplace can cause occupational asthma. These can be broken down into two basic classes.
1. Simple irritants that aggravate the lungs and respiratory system directly. Examples incude dust, fumes, smoke, and certain chemical substances such as acid vapors. Reactive Airway Syndrome occurs when chronic (repeated) exposure to these irritants causes the lung surfaces to become increasingly sensitive.

2. Substances which evoke an allergic (immune) response. Examples include inhaled material that contains proteins such as feathers, hair, plant materials (think pollen). Certain chemicals are sensitizers that cause your body to react to even minute amounts of that or other chemicals.

Books Available

• "Allergy and Asthma: Practical Diagnosis and Management", Paperback, 400 pages, 2007. Estimated price $46.75. Info and/or order .
• "The Harvard Medical School Guide To Taking Control Of Asthma", Paperback, 352 pages, 2003. Estimated price $19.00. Info and/or order .
• "The Asthma Educators Handbook", Paperback, 432 pages, 2007. Estimated price $48.66. Info and/or order .
• "The Asthma Sourcebook 3rd Ed", Paperback, 256 pages, 2006. Estimated price $11.53. Info and/or order .
• "Asthma for Dummies", Paperback, 384 pages, 2004. Estimated price $14.99. Info and/or order .
• "Pick Your Poison: How Our Mad Dash to Chemical Utopia is Making Lab Rats of Us All", Hardcover, 256 pages, 2011. Estimated price $17.13. Info and/or order ILPI recommended.

MSDS Relevance

While occupationally-related asthma is usually reversible, chronic exposure to an irritant can result in permanent lung damage. The worker may become generally asthmatic, reacting to molds, allergens, cigarette smoke, dust mites, pet dander etc.

While overall, few workers suffer occupationally-related asthma, certain professions have a significant higher risk. See the American Lung Association link and others below for specific examples and further information.

Further Reading

The American Lung Association's Asthma Page. OSHA's Occupational Asthma Page with links and info. The AAAAI has a brief overview of occupational asthma. Occupational Asthma at the NIH's Medline Plus medical encyclopedia. Occupational Asthma at eMedicineHealth. Occupational Asthma at WebMD. Occupational Asthma at CNN Health. Occupational Asthma in the Merck Manual Home Edition. Pediatrics, Reactive Airway Disease at eMedicine. Reactive airway disease: Is it asthma? at MayoClinic.com. See also: dust, emphysema, respiratory, sensitizer. Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Comply with OSHA and ANSI standards with respiratory protection products from Safety Emporium.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.