Occupational asthma is asthma caused by work-related exposure to a pulmonary sensitizing agent.
Thus, OA can be classified into two types based on its pathogenesis.
Sensitizer-induced OA, also known as “immunologic OA,” and “allergic OA” or “OA with latency period”.
Causes of Occupational Asthma
Sensitizers for occupational asthma are divided into high molecular weight compounds (HMW) and low molecular weight compounds (LMW).
High-molecular-weight agents
- Cereal.
- Flour.
- Wheat.
- Rye.
- Buckwheat.
- Barley.
Animals
- Rats.
- Mice.
- Rabbits.
- Seafood.
Enzymes
- Amylase.
- Subtilisine.
- Maxatase.
- Pancreatin.
- Bromelain.
- Latex.
- Hevea tree protein.
Low-molecular weight agents
Di-isocyanates
- Toluene di-isocyanate.
- Hexamethylene di-isocyanate.
- Methylene diphenyl-di-isocyanate.
Acrylates
- Cyanoacrylates.
- Methacrylates.
- Di- and tri-acrylates.
Persulphate salts
- Hairdressing products (bleach).
Biocides
- Formaldehyde.
- Glutaraldehyde.
- Quaternary ammonium compounds.
Metals
- Chromium.
- Nickel.
- Cobalt.
- Platinum.
Wood dust
- Western red cedar.
- Iroko.
- Obeche.
- Oak.
Acid anhydrides
- Phthalic.
- Trimellitic.
- Maleic anhydrides.
Amines
- Triethanolamine.
- Ethylene diamine.
- Isophorone diamine.
Related: Occupational Health Surveillance | Program, Purpose, and Benefits
Symptoms of Occupational Asthma
After repeated exposure to a pulmonary sensitizing agent, the condition is characterized by the onset of asthma symptoms like dyspnea, coughing, and wheezing.
Depending on the specific substance and sensitivity, symptoms may appear immediately or several hours later.
The person may become more sensitive after repeated exposure and react to lower airborne concentrations of the substance.
Diagnosis of Occupational Asthma
The diagnosis depends on proving that workplace factors are causing variable and reversible airway obstruction.
Normally, occupational history and serial lung function assessments are required.
The evaluation should seek to establish the following:
- Exposure to substances that could be allergens or irritants.
- The presence of a temporal relationship.
- Natural disease progressions, such as rhinitis, coughing, and wheezing.
- Factors that are aggravating and relieving.
- Using medications that could mask workplace effects.
Read Also: Good Practices in Occupational Risk Management
Management of Occupational Asthma
The preferred treatment for OA is to remove the worker from further exposure.
It is treated similarly to non-OA with inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting β2-agonists, leukotriene modifying agents, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and oral corticosteroids.
Summary
Occupational asthma (OA) is asthma caused by work-related exposure to a pulmonary sensitizing agent.
Sensitizers for occupational asthma are divided into high molecular weight compounds (HMW) and low molecular weight compounds (LMW).
After repeated exposure to a pulmonary sensitizing agent, the condition is characterized by the onset of asthma symptoms like dyspnea, coughing, and wheezing.
The diagnosis depends on proving that workplace factors are causing variable and reversible airway obstruction.
Normally, occupational history and serial lung function assessments are required.
The preferred treatment for OA is to remove the worker from further exposure.
Occupational asthma is treated similarly to non-OA with inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting β2-agonists, leukotriene modifying agents, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and oral corticosteroids.
References
- Harbison, R. D., Bourgeois, M. M., & Johnson, G. T. (2015). Hamilton & Hardy’s Industrial Toxicology. Hoboken, New Jersey John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Guidotti, T. L. (2011). Global occupational health. Oxford University Press.
- Tan, J., & Bernstein, J. A. (2014). Occupational Asthma: An Overview. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 14(5). From SpringerLink
- Cormier, M., & Lemière, C. (2020). Occupational asthma. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 24(1), 8–21. From PubMed
Yusuf Saeed
Pharmacist | Medical Writer & Translator
Yusuf Saeed graduated from the Arab Academy for Science and Technology and Maritime Transport with a B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. His passion for research and healthcare communication led him to specialize in medical writing and translation. Yusuf is committed to delivering accurate, well-researched content that empowers readers with reliable medical information and bridges language gaps in healthcare education.
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