Work-related asthma is fast becoming one of the most commonly
diagnosed occupational respiratory diseases, and people
who work in certain industries may run a higher risk than
others, new study findings show.
An analysis of survey responses from nearly 21,000 adults
revealed that men and women who work in printing or publishing,
furniture or lumber, health care, and entertainment and
recreation, may be most likely to be diagnosed with asthma,
as are those who work for automobile dealers and gas stations.
"This study stresses that workers employed in these industries
need to be informed by the employer and aware that they
are potentially exposed to asthmagens and the seriousness
of their effect," study author Dr. Ki Moon Bang, of the
West Virginia-based National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, stated.
In their study, Bang and colleagues reviewed information
from 20,991 men and women who participated in the 2001 National
Health Interview survey, to identify the industries associated
with an increased risk of asthma.
Overall, 6.5 percent of survey respondents reported having
been diagnosed with asthma. This represents about 8.6 million
individuals among 133 million adult workers in the United
States, the researchers report in this month's issue of
the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
Asthma was most prevalent among whites and females, and
among automobile dealers, gasoline station workers and those
in the durable goods field.
The industries associated with a greater risk of asthma
varied by race, the report indicates.
White men who worked in printing, publishing and allied
industries, were 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with
asthma than those in the comparison group who worked in
finance, public administration, communication and other
office-related industries. The increased risk of asthma
was possibly due to the men's exposure to acrylic resins,
dyes, glues and sealants at their workplace, the report
indicates.
White women who worked in the health care industry were
30 percent more likely than their peers in the comparison
group to be diagnosed with asthma, possibly due to their
exposure to certain detergents, latex and other agents.
On the other hand, black women who worked in the furniture,
lumber and wood industry had a nearly six-fold increased
risk of being diagnosed with asthma in comparison to their
peers, potentially due to their exposure to formaldehyde,
wood dust and other agents. Those who worked in the entertainment
and recreation industry were four times more likely to be
diagnosed with asthma, possibly because of their exposure
to certain art materials, cleaning chemicals, and photographic
development chemicals.
Black men who worked in the construction industry or in
chemicals and allied products had a more than five-fold
increased of being diagnosed with the condition, while those
who worked in durable goods; furniture, lumber and wood;
eating and drinking places; and other personal services,
respectively, were up to four times more likely to be diagnosed
with asthma than were their peers.
Men and women who worked in elementary, secondary schools,
and colleges and those who worked in the utilities and sanitary
industry were also at an increased risk for asthma, the
researchers note.
According to the American Thoracic Society, an estimated
15 percent of all adult cases of asthma may be related to
the workplace. Based on this estimate, Bang and colleagues
write, approximately 1.3 million adult asthma cases could
be attributed to occupational exposure.
"This article should increase awareness among employers
and workers about increased risk of asthma in specific industries,"
Bang stated.
The team concludes that "this information helps to target
workplaces where detailed investigations for prevention
and control may be appropriate."
SOURCE: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, June 2005.
