A pharmaceutical worker developed asthma when exposed to hydralazine, an antihypertensive drug. The diagnosis of occupational asthma was supported by specific inhalation challenges, which produced a late asthmatic reaction and an increase in bronchial responsiveness. No evidence of an IgE or an IgG dependent mechanism could be found.

W ith the reduction in the disease burden from the pneumoconioses in recent years, especially in developed countries, occupational asthma has emerged as the occupational lung disease of greatest importance. It is usually the most common respiratory condition reported in occupational disease surveillance programmes and makes a substantial contribution to the burden of asthma in the community, wi...

BACKGROUND Occupational exposures are an important cause of adult-onset asthma but the population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) has been less frequently studied. OBJECTIVES To examine the distribution and determinants of adult asthma in six centres across Canada using data gathered in a community-based study. METHODS Data were gathered in a community survey of 2959 adults using the Eu...

BACKGROUND Occupational asthma is the most frequently reported work related respiratory disease in many countries. This work was commissioned by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation to assist the Health and Safety Executive in achieving its target of reducing the incidence of occupational asthma in Great Britain by 30% by 2010. AIM The guidelines aim to improve the prevention, ...

If asthma is due to work exposures there must be a relation between these exposures and the asthma. Asthma causes airway hyperresponsiveness and obstruction; the obstruction can be measured with portable meters, which usually measure peak expiratory flow, or sometimes forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). These can be measured serially (for instance 2 hourly) over several weeks at and aw...

Occupational asthma has been reported to be the most common chronic respiratory occupational disease in many developed countries, and as with other occupational lung diseases, occupational asthma is potentially preventable. We report the case of a 24-year-old baker who experienced pneumomediastinum as a consequence of workplace exposure. This is the first report of pneumomediastinum as an acute...

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BACKGROUND There is very little information available on a national level as to the number of people exposed to specific asthmagens in workplaces. METHODS We conducted a national telephone survey in Australia to investigate the prevalence of current occupational exposure to 277 asthmagens, assembled into 27 groups. Demographic and current job information were obtained. A web-based tool, OccID...

Occupational asthma (OA) can be defined as variable airways narrowing causally related to exposure in the working environment to airborne dusts, gases, vapours or fumes. There are many agents in the work-place that can induce asthma or cause substantial deterioration in pre-existing asthma. It has been estimated that 5-15% of adult-onset asthma can be attributed to occupational exposures. Hence...