What are the Causes of Occupational Asthma?
Occupational asthma (OA) is caused by various types of environmental agents, which lead to inflammation of the airways of the lungs. Exposure to the following categories of substances can cause OA:
- Chemicals: These include chemicals used in paints, solder paste, laminates, varnishes, adhesives, detergents, and insecticides.
- Animal Substances: These include proteins present in hair, fur, dander, scales, and dried excretory products that can form aerosols.
- Plant Substances: These include plant proteins present in pollen, flour, wheat, rye, flax, jute, cotton, hemp, and rubber latex.
- Metals: These include minute particles of metals such as platinum, nickel, and chromium.
- Particulate Matter: These include various types of respiratory irritants such as dust, asbestos, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, and smoke (including cigarette smoke).
What are the Symptoms & Signs of Occupational Asthma?
Symptoms usually occur due to narrowing of the airways due to tightening of the muscles lining them, which reduces the amount of air that can pass in and out of the lungs. Symptoms depend on the type of agent, as well as the degree, frequency, and duration of exposure. Some of the major symptoms of OA include the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing
- Chest tightness
- Wheezing
- Lung congestion
- Respiratory tract inflammation
- Allergic reaction in the airways
Other associated symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Nose blockage
