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Asthma
in the workplace
Animal, mineral or vegetable antigens can set off an attack... I consulted a new doctor in town about my breathing difficulties and wheezing. After a long history-taking and examination, he concluded that it was asthma. I have never had this before, nor has anyone in my family. The only thing different in my life is a new job. My wife thinks is the source of my problem. Is this possible? Doctors Reply I could probably tell you much more if you had indicated your type of employment in your letter. It's another example of just how important a patient's history is in tracking down the cause of a disease. It is not easy to point to any specific agents that could provoke the bronchial constriction that typifies occupational asthma because there are more than 100 known causes. To narrow our search for an answer, we can divide the possible causes into animal, vegetable or mineral (chemical) categories, and you can figure out which might apply in your case. The most common animal sources are hair, dander and saliva. These particles, carried through the air, cause an immediate type of response, which is characteristic of the type of asthma seen in people who work in close contact with animals on a daily basis. Of the vegetable type antigens, flour is the most common. This is frequently called "cacker's asthma" or "miller's asthma." Wood dust, particularly from the western red cedar, is another vegetable cause, affecting mill workers. One of the most common chemical agents known to cause asthma is toluene diisocuanate (TDI). This chemical is found in many products, including polyurethane, paint products and acrylics. About 5% to 10% of people exposed to powerful chemical develop asthma. The onset of symptoms may not be immediate but will become apparent hours after the work day exposure is over. If you work at a large plant, you might be able to get more help from your medical staff, who might have seen cases like yours in the recent past. Once you have a suspected antigen, further testing is necessary to establish the exact cause of your asthma. Write to: Dr. Bruckheim cannot give personal
replies but will answer as many questions as possible in his column. |