| Work-Related Asthma (WRA) |
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What is work-related asthma (WRA)?
Asthma is a condition which has affected an estimated 274,000 adults in Oregon and 18 million adults in the U.S.1 Asthma is associated with environment, genetics, and other factors, and is characteracterized by recurrent episodes of chest tightness, wheezing, cough and shortness of breath. In an asthma attack, the muscles around the airways tighten, causing less air to circulate. Swelling also narrows the airways, which can cause mucus to clog it.2
Substances or conditions in the workplace such as dust, chemicals and smoke cause or worsen WRA. An estimated 15% of adult asthma is due to work-related exposures.3 Although WRA is preventable, there is no evidence that its incidence is decreasing.
Who conducts WRA surveillance?
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) funds California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey to conduct asthma surveillance. While Oregon does not receive funding to monitor WRA specifically, asthma is a priority issue for Oregon. The Oregon Asthma Program conducts asthma surveillance and provides resources and data about asthma among Oregonians.
Read more about work-related asthma...
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| Data |
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According to data from the Oregon Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS, a random-digit-dialed telephone survey that is administered annually to adults 18 years or older in each state), adult asthma prevalence in Oregon increased from 7.3 percent (approximately 188,000) in 1999 to 9.9 percent (approximately 274,000) in 2005.1 In a 2005 BRFSS follow-up survey of those with asthma, 11 percent of currently employed respondents said chemicals, smoke, fumes or dust at their current job caused their asthma and 24 percent of respondents said those substances exacerbated their asthma. Health care providers told seven percent of respondents that their asthma was related to one or more of their jobs.
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| Resources |
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Putting Data to Work
Putting Data to Work is a quarterly publication by OWIIPP that provides readers with concise descriptions of work-related issues. It provides a scope of the problem summary, epidemiological data, description and/or diagnosis of the injury/illness, case summary, prevention recommendations, conclusions, resources, and references.
Work-related Asthma (pdf)
Asmapro
Asmapro is one of the leading information resources on WRA. It includes information categorized by occupation or substance name; each occupation has information on specific jobs, agents, reported incidence, job conditions that have caused WRA, symptoms, diagnostic information and references.
Asmapro
Tips to Remember: Occupational Asthma
From the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, this brochure provides a summary of useful facts about occupational asthma, including some common substances that cause WRA.
Tips to Remember
IRSST Asthma Fact Sheets
The Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Securité du Travail (IRSST) has published a useful fact sheet (in English) about WRA and adapted it to address risks and prevention strategies in specific industries: baking and pastry arts, carpentry and joinery, dental hygiene, plastering, plumbing and heating, and animal health.
Generic Fact Sheet (pdf)
Baking and Pastry Arts (pdf)
Carpentry and Joinery (pdf)
Dental Hygiene (pdf)
Plastering (pdf)
Plumbing and Heating (pdf)
Animal Health (pdf)
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| References |
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1 Oregon Department of Human Services. 2007. Oregon asthma surveillance report. Available at URL: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/asthma/docs/report.pdf.
2 National Heart Lung and Blood Institue. 2006. What is asthma? Available at URL: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html.
3 Balmes J, Becklake M, Blanc P et al. 3002. Environmental and Occupational Health Assembly, American Thoracic Society. American Thoracic Society statement: occupational contribution to the burden of airway disease. Am J Resp Crit Care Mad 167:787-97.
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