Exposure to agents such as wood dust, paint fumes, solvents,
latex and baking flour triggers up to 3,000 new cases of asthma
every year in susceptible workers in Australia, according to a
report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW).
There are between 300 and 400 potential causal agents of
occupational asthma-others include isocyanates (the raw materials
used in polyurethane products), coffee bean dust, formaldehyde and
solder flux.
The report, Occupational Asthma in Australia, shows
that anywhere from 9 to 15% of adult-onset asthma cases can be
attributed to exposure to causal agents at work.
'As many as 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma occur each
year in Australia,' said Dr Kuldeep Bhatia, Head of the AIHW's
Asthma, Arthritis and Environmental Health Unit.
Occupations with the greatest risk for occupational asthma
include farming, painting, cleaning, baking, animal handling and
chemical work.
Other at-risk occupations include nursing, welding, food
processing, dentistry, timber and forestry industries, and
industries that produce metals, plastics, electronics, rubber and
textiles.
Although not curable, occupational asthma is largely preventable
through actions that avoid or reduce exposure to workplace
sensitisers and irritants.
'Unfortunately people with occupational asthma often have to
change jobs or careers to relieve their symptoms, hence work
disruption and economic hardship can result,' Dr Bhatia said.
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that
affects more than 2 million Australians across all age groups.
Asthma can develop any time in life but current estimates are that
50-60% of all cases develop in adulthood.
Exposure to causal agents, tobacco smoking, previous allergic
sensitisation, and genetic disposition are all thought to affect
individual susceptibility to asthma.
Thursday 8 May 2008
Further information: Dr Kuldeep Bhatia, AIHW 02
6244 1144, mob. 0417 880 300
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Occupational Asthma in
Australia.