| Definition: | A lung disorder characterized by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, prolonged exhalation, and cough, which is caused by various agents found in the work place (see also bronchial asthma). These symptoms are usually due to spasms of the muscles lining the airways, which cause them to narrow excessively.
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| Alternative Names: | Asthma - occupational exposure; Byssinosis - work-aggravated asthma; Irritant-induced reactive airways disease
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| Causes, incidence, and risk factors: | There are many agents in the workplace which can cause occupational asthma. Most commonly, these include protein molecules (wood dusts, grain dusts, animal danders, fungal substances) or other chemicals (especially di-isocyanates). Though the actual rate of occurrence of occupational asthma is unknown, it is suspected to cause between 2 and 20 percent of all cases of asthma in industrialized nations. Workers in the following occupations are at higher risk: plastics workers, metal workers, bakers, millers, farmers, grain elevator workers, laboratory workers, woodworkers, drug manufacturers, and detergent manufacturers.
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