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Occupational asthma

If so, you may have occupational asthma, a lung condition caused by inhaling workplace fumes, gases or dust. In developed countries, it's the most common work-related lung disease. Occupational asthma can develop if you never had asthma before or had childhood asthma that later cleared. It can also worsen any pre-existing asthma.

When recognized and treated early, occupational asthma is usually reversible. But the only sure way to prevent the worst consequence of occupational asthma — permanent lung damage — is to completely avoid whatever is causing the condition. If that's not possible at your workplace, your doctor may recommend that you find a new job in a different line of work as the best approach to occupational asthma.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of occupational asthma may include:

    * Wheezing
    * Coughing
    * Shortness of breath
    * Chest tightness
    * Difficulty exercising

Other possible accompanying signs and symptoms may include:

    * Runny nose
    * Nasal congestion
    * Eye irritation

During the early stages of the disease, you usually develop symptoms shortly after exposure to the workplace substance that causes it. Sometimes, you may not notice any signs or symptoms until up to 12 hours later. Your asthma may worsen as your workweek progresses, subside during weekends and vacations, and recur when you return to work.

In later stages of the disease, you may also develop signs and symptoms when you're away from work. Once your lungs have developed a pattern of overreacting to a certain substance, you may become sensitive to other substances, such as house dust, cigarette smoke and cold air.


If you have asthma, the inside walls of the airways in your lungs are inflamed and swollen. This makes the muscles surrounding your airways very sensitive, so they tighten and constrict spontaneously. In addition, membranes in your airway linings secrete excess mucus. The result is narrowed airways and obstructed airflow that typically lead to coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Causes

More than 250 workplace substances have been identified as causes of occupational asthma. These substances typically fall into one of six categories:

    * Animal substances. These include proteins found in dander, hair, scales, fur, saliva and body wastes.
    * Chemicals. These include anhydrides, diisocyanates and acids used to make paints, varnishes, adhesives, laminates and soldering resin. Other examples include chemicals used to make insulation, packaging materials, and foam mattresses and upholstery.
    * Enzymes. These are used in detergents, flour conditioners, some pharmaceuticals and meat tenderizers.
    * Metals. The most problematic ones include platinum, chromium and nickel sulfate.
    * Plant substances. These include proteins found in natural rubber latex, flour, cereals, cotton, flax, hemp, rye, wheat and papain, a digestive enzyme derived from papaya.
    * Respiratory irritants. Examples include chlorine gas, sulfur dioxide and smoke.

Occupational asthma may be caused by one of three processes:

    * Direct irritation. You may develop symptoms immediately after exposure to substances, such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, hydrochloric acid and environmental smoke. This is an irritant reaction rather than an allergic reaction because it's primarily a trigger of pre-existing asthma.
    * Allergic sensitization. Your body develops an allergy from continued exposure to a specific substance. Symptoms of occupational asthma emerge when your immune system produces specific antibodies against the substance and triggers the release of inflammatory chemicals such as histamine. The sensitization process may take less than a year, or it may take several years.
    * Pharmacological reaction. Some substances increase your body's natural production of chemicals that trigger occupational asthma symptoms, such as histamine and acetylcholine. Insecticides, for example, can cause a buildup of acetylcholine in your lungs.