Asthma at Work

A small number of people with asthma--about 2 percent--develop the condition at work. While anyone can get "occupational asthma," you’re at highest risk if your family has a history of asthma (or allergies) and you frequently encounter irritating substances. A few of these irritants are:

Chemical fumes or dust. These come from paint, insulation, furniture, foam mattresses, or packing materials. Two groups of asthma-causing chemicals are isocyanates and anhydrides. Workers in manufacturing and processing plants may inhale them.

Animal dander, hair, or mites. Almost every animal carries allergens like these. You get hefty exposure to the irritants if you work at a kennel or farm. Veterinarians and animal groomers are also at asthma risk.

Dust from flour, grains, cereals, coffee, or tea. So-called "baker’s asthma" can affect anyone working in a kitchen, mill, or other food-processing job.

Industrial materials, like cotton, and certain metals. Employees in refining or textile jobs bump into these irritants every day.

How can you tell if your job is causing asthma? It’s not always easy. You might start to cough, wheeze, or feel breathless hours after you arrive at work--or even after you leave. If you have bouts of asthma symptoms, pay attention to when they occur. Do you feel much better on the weekend or during vacation? That could indicate on-the-job asthma. Keep in mind that occupational asthma can take years to develop. Once it does, you may become sensitive to a host of substances--like cigarette smoke or cold air--even away from work.

If you think your job is making you sick, recruit a health care provider’s help. Together, you can check your symptom pattern and consider likely triggers. You may need to measure your breathing several times a day to see how it changes at work. You do this with a peak flow meter, a hand-held device into which you breathe. Your doctor also may perform a "challenge test," where you inhale asthma-causing substances to test your reaction.

If you do have occupational asthma, you’ll probably need to talk with your boss. Before you do, learn about your health rights. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal agency that studies work-related health problems, offers a hotline (1-800-356-4674) to all employees. Or check out NIOSH on the Web.

Most of the time, occupational asthma can be cured. The solution is getting treatment and staying away from the chemical triggers. If asthma goes unchecked, however, it can lead to permanent lung damage. You may need to switch jobs or move to another location at your company. Sometimes, changes in the office environment--like an improved ventilation system--can solve the problem.

Reviewed Jan.1998 by Douglas S Paauw, MD, University of Washington