Workplace Can Cause Asthma in Adults
Excerpt By Jeff Carpenter, ABCNEWS.com

Hundreds of thousands of Americans with asthma may be suffering because of what they are exposed to at work.

Is your job making you sick?

If it is, doctors say it could be because of one of many substances found in the workplace that are linked to allergies and asthma.

According to a panel of respiratory specialists who convened this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., as many as 5 percent of all adult asthma cases can be linked to workplace allergens and irritants such as latex, mites, detergents, ammonia, chlorine, and a variety of substances used in the manufacture of plastics.

"[These estimates] come from a number of different studies," said the college's president, Dr. Emil Bardana. "Some have estimated as high as 10 percent, some as low as 2 percent, and it depends on where you're doing the study, and what industry you're studying."

Although experts may disagree about the prevalence of the problem, there is no doubt that substances in the workplace can cause serious illness.

With more than 15 million Americans now suffering from asthma, Bardana estimates that hundreds of thousands could be experiencing work-related forms of the disease.

Those workers at highest risk include people who are exposed to latex, such as health-care professionals, as well as people exposed to animals, such as veterinarians. In addition, industrial workers are often exposed to toxic and irritating chemicals, which can contribute to asthma.

Workplace Causes and Prevention

Doctors believe that there are two basic ways to get asthma in the workplace. The most common way to become asthmatic is through constant exposure to allergens, which are any substance your body is allergic to, such as latex. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are similar to hay fever, and include runny nose and watery eyes.

The other, less common, way is to be exposed to an irritant such as chlorine, a condition that is more likely to clear itself up after exposure. Symptoms of asthma include breathlessness, wheezing, and cough.

To prevent these respiratory problems, workers can simply avoid exposure to particular allergens and irritants. Doctors suggest educating workers and employers about the dangers of certain substances, as well as the benefits of using masks, gloves, and exhaust systems to remove allergens from the workplace.

One way to tell if a symptom is work-related is to note whether or not it improves when you are away from work. If your sniffles and cough mysteriously get better at night and disappear over the weekends and vacation, that could be an indicator that your illness is work-related.

"I think anyone with asthma should at least stop and think: Is there something about their school or workplace that's contributing to their asthma?" said Dr. Helen Hollingsworth, director of adult asthma and allergy services at Boston Medical Center.

"Prevention is the key thing," said Bardana.

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