Occupational Asthmagens
In at least one out of every six asthmatics, their asthma is caused or made worse by workplace exposures. There are over 350 occupational asthmagens. The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics maintains an updated list of asthmagens located at: www.aoec.org/tools.htm.
These reference tables list common occupational asthma triggers and the occupations where they are often encountered. The first table is sorted by workers at risk. The second table is sorted by agents in the workplace.
For more information
Occupational Lung Disease Registry
REMINDER: Physians are required, by law, to report suspected cases of occupational lung disease to the New York State Department of Health. To file a report, call toll free: 1-866-807-2130
| Workers at Risk | Agents |
|---|---|
| Animal Handlers | Animal urine, dander |
| Bakers | Enzymes, flour/grain dust/mites |
| Carpenters | Acrylate, amines, diisocyanates, epoxy resins, wood dusts |
| Cleaners/Janitors | Cleaning materials, dusts, molds |
| Daycare providers | Cleaning materials, dusts, latex (natural), molds |
| Electronic workers | Amines, colophony, metals, soldering flux |
| Farmers | Animal urine, dander, grain dusts, mites, insects |
| Hairdressers | Henna, persulfate |
| Health care workers | Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, latex, methyldopa, penicillins, psyllium |
| Laboratory workers | Animal urine, dander, feathers, enzymes, formaldehyde,glutaraldehyde, insects, latex |
| Machinists/Tool setters | Metal working fluids, oil mists |
| Office workers | Cleaning materials, dusts, molds |
| Pharmaceutical workers | Cephalosporins, pancreatin, papain, pepsin, psyllium |
| Photographers | Complex amines |
| Plastic/Rubber workers | Anhydrides, diisocyanates |
| Sawmill workers | Wood dusts |
| Seafood processors | Crabs, prawns |
| Teachers | Cleaning materials, dusts, molds |
| Textile workers | Dyes, gums |
| Welders | Welding fumes |
| Agents | Workers at Risk |
|---|---|
| Animal-Derived Substances | |
| Egg protein | Egg producers |
| Grain mites | Farmers, grain handlers |
| Insects | Laboratory workers |
| Laboratory animals | Laboratory workers, animal handlers |
| Shellfish | Seafood processors |
| Chemicals | |
| Acrylates | Adhesives handlers, nail salon workers |
| Amines | Shellac and lacquer handlers, solderers, carpenters, photographers |
| Anhydrides | Users of epoxy resins, plastic/rubber workers |
| Dyes | Textile workers |
| Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde | Hospital staff |
| Isocyanates | Spray painters, polyurethane foam insulation installers/ manufacturers, plastic manufacturers |
| Persulfate | Hairdressers |
| Drugs/Pharmaceuticals | |
| Penicillins, psyllium, methyldopa, cimetidine | Pharmaceutical industry, health care workers |
| Plant-Derived Substances | |
| Biologic enzymes | Detergent industry workers |
| Castor beans | Farmers, millers, oil industry workers, dock workers |
| Flour and grain dusts | Bakers, millers |
| Latex (natural rubber) | Health care workers, day care providers, food service |
| Vegetable gums | Carpet makers, pharmaceutical workers |
| Wood dusts | Forest workers, carpenters, cabinet makers, sawmill workers |
| Metal, Fluxes | |
| Cobalt | Hard-metal grinders |
| Fluxes | Electronics workers |
| Welding fumes | Welders |
| Other | |
| Metal working fluids, oil mists | Machinists, tool setters |
| Dusts, molds | Teachers, cleaners, office workers, janitors |
| Cleaning materials | Cleaners, janitors, daycare providers |
Chan-Yeung M, Malo JL. Occupational Asthma. The New England Journal of Medicine 333: 107-112, 1995. 333: 107-112, 1995. Venables KM, Chan-Yeung M. Occupational Asthma. Lancet 349: 1465-1469, 1997.
