Occupational asthma is asthma that is caused by types of working practices or the presence of irritants, fumes or gases at work. If the individual already has asthma, but it gets worse in the workplace, this may also be classed as occupational asthma. The sufferer has the same symptoms as in non-occupational asthma - the inside walls of an person's airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases their susceptibility to an allergic reaction, which may result in wheezing, chest tightness, and other asthma signs and symptoms.

Treatment for occupational asthma can be effective if diagnosed early enough. However, if the person has been exposed to the irritant for a long time, his/her asthma may become chronic (long-term, irreversible).

Treatment for occupational asthma is basically the same as for asthma that is not work-related. However, an individual with occupational asthma may have the option of avoiding the irritant, by either changing jobs or working with his/her employer for better working conditions.

What Causes Asthma?

Many irritants in the workplace can trigger occupational asthma. The most common one being wood dust, grain dust, animal dander, fungi, diisocyanates and other chemicals.

Diisocyanates are manufactured for reaction with polyols in the production of polyurethanes. Polyurethanes are widely used in high resiliency flexible foam seating, rigid foam insulation panels, microcellular foam seals and gaskets, durable elastomeric wheels and tires, automotive suspension bushings, electrical potting compounds, high performance adhesives and sealants, Spandex fibers, seals, gaskets, carpet underlay, and hard plastic parts.

According to the World Health Organization, between 2% to 20% of all asthma rates in industrialized nations are cases of occupational asthma.

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