Work-Related Asthma and Exposure Risks to Known Triggers

Work-related asthma is described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as asthma triggered by exposures at work. The agency goes on to report there are over 300 known substances in the workplace that can cause or worsen asthma.

Symptoms of work-related asthma are the same as those for non-work related asthma, and may include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. NIOSH warns that asthma symptoms can come and go, and some workers might not have all of the symptoms. Symptoms can develop shortly after an exposure; however, they can also develop months or years after repeated exposures to harmful substances.

Exposure to various irritants, allergens, and physical conditions could act as work-related asthma triggers. Some examples listed by NIOSH include:

• Animal dander, insects, and dust mites
• Chlorine-based cleaning products
• Cigarette smoke
• Materials from cockroaches
• Cold air
• Dust from wood, grain, flour, or green coffee beans
• Gases such as ozone

Additional examples of triggers shared by the agency include irritant chemicals, metal dust, physical exertion, pollen and plants, strong fumes, vapors from chemicals (e.g., ammonia, isocyanates, and solvents), and wood smoke.

“The good news is work-related asthma can typically be prevented or controlled by reducing or eliminating exposure to triggers,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “At CTSI, our industrial hygiene and indoor air quality professionals offer testing and monitoring services to identify a wide range of chemical and biological substances that can act as respiratory irritants, allergens, and asthma triggers. CTSI also provides employee training, personal protective equipment recommendations, and modifications to engineering controls and work practices to prevent or mitigate exposure risks.”

CTSI recently sponsored an educational video about work-related asthma and occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/LQqs8MY82Ns

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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