Occupational asthma epidemiology and demographics
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
Overview
Epidemiology and Demographics
- Asthma affects as much as 15% of the Canadian population[1] (and this is true of other developed countries too) and has increased four fold in the last 20 years. Various reasons can be identified for this increase that includes better diagnostic facilities along with a greater awareness regarding the disease have shown to play a major role. But, one cannot deny the part of increased environmental pollution. Researchers have been working on the relation between the environment and human health since long and the air we breathe is the primary cause for lung diseases like asthma, rhinitis, COPDs, etc. that affect us today.
- Approximately, 10 to 15% of adult-onset asthma cases are affected by an aggravation of symptoms while at work and an improvement when away, which implies that they may be suffering from occupational asthma.[2][3] Thus, when an individual’s asthma is caused, not aggravated, by workplace materials, it is defined as occupational asthma ("OA"). In the USA, OA is considered the most common occupational lung disease[4].
- At present, over 400 workplace substances have been identified as having asthmagenic or allergenic properties[5]. Their existence and magnitude vary from region to region and the type of industry and can be as varied as wood dust (cedar, ebony, etc.), persulfates (Hairsprays), zinc or even seafood like prawns. For example, in France the industries most affected in order of importance are Bakeries and cake-shops, automobile industry and hairdressers[6], whereas in Canada the principle cause is wood dust, followed by isocyanates.
References
- ↑ C-Health: Asthma in Canada(2007)
- ↑ Dykewicz MS (2009) Occupational asthma: current concepts in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. J Allergy Clin Immunol 123 (3):519-28; quiz 529-30. DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2009.01.061 PMID: 19281900
- ↑ Maestrelli P, Boschetto P, Fabbri LM, Mapp CE (2009) Mechanisms of occupational asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 123 (3):531-42; quiz 543-4. DOI:10.1016/j.jaci.2009.01.057 PMID: 19281901
- ↑ http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/files/AsthmaCme.pdf
- ↑ http://www.asmanet.com/asmapro/agents.htm
- ↑ Reported incidence of occupational asthma in France, 1996–99: the ONAP programme. J Ameille, G Pauli, A Calastreng-Crinquand, D Vervloët, Y Iwatsubo, E Popin, M C Bayeux-Dunglas and M C Kopferschmitt-Kubler2 and the corresponding members of the ONAP