Professions Susceptible To Occupational Asthma

Which Professions Are Susceptible To Occupational Asthma?

Occupational Asthma can be caused by numerous substances and in a wide variety of workplace environments – the list below simply mentions some of the more common examples and is not intended to be exhaustive. If you feel that you may have developed asthma as a result of your work environment then you should contact us even if none of the examples below are directly relevant to your own employment.

Any job that involves exposure to certain types of dusts, chemicals or gases can increase the risk of a worker developing occupation asthma or other lung disorders. Some of the most common types of work include:

Baking – people who work in bakeries, kitchens and flour mills can be affected by the dusts and enzymes commonly used in those environments.

Vehicle spray painting – the paints and lacquers that are sprayed onto vehicles contain a range of chemicals; in particular isocyanates that have been shown to increase the risk of asthma.

Woodworking – when wood is sawn or sanded, large quantities of dust particles are often released into the atmosphere and these can easily be breathed in by workers. Certain types of hard and soft woods can be more likely to cause irritation.

Soldering – people working in the electronic assembly industry can often come into contact with fumes from the rosin-based solder flux that is commonly used.

Healthcare work – as well as the risks from chemicals and medicines, healthcare workers often need to use protective gloves that are made from latex and the dust or powder from latex is a common irritant. In addition to this, invisible toxic gases can be given off during diathermy; a surgical technique used for cutting tissue or sealing bleeding blood vessels.

Working with animals – from pet-shop workers to farmers and zoo-keepers, anyone who regularly works with animals can potentially be affected by dusts from fur, feathers, dried urine and saliva and dander; the tiny particles of dead skin. These dusts contain proteins called ‘animal aeroallergens’ that have been shown to cause asthma.

Working in agriculture or horticulture – those who work on farms or in gardens are at an increased risk of developing asthma due to the variety of dusts commonly found in their workplaces. Grain dust, poultry dust, fungal spores, mites, plant dusts, soil, animal bedding and feed components all have the capacity to cause irritation and potentially asthma when exposure is frequent or prolonged.

Engineering and metal-working – people who work with metals; whether cutting, producing or shaping can be exposed to metal working fluids (MWFs) which can cause asthma if the vapours or mist is inhaled.

Hairdressing – some of the chemicals used in hairdressing; particularly the bleaches used to lighten hair can contain sulphates which have been shown to cause asthma when inhaled.

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