As many as 1 in 5 asthma-related deaths in the US is due to occupational exposure—and many could be prevented, according to CDC researchers.
The researchers analyzed reports from 1999-2016 of asthma-related mortality and occupations of the people involved. Of 3,396 deaths (3,396 in 2015 alone), between 11% and 21% were due to occupational exposures. Health care workers and construction workers were at highest risk.
By industry, the highest number of deaths were among men working in construction (13%) and women in health care (14%). By occupation, the most deaths were among men construction trades workers (11%) and women office and administrative support workers (9%).
The researchers note that ongoing exposure to cleaners, disinfectants, and antibiotics, all can trigger asthma. But they also point out that steps can be successfully taken to limit the type of exposure that exacerbates asthma symptoms, such as replacing powdered latex gloves with powder-free natural rubber latex or nonlatex gloves.
In an interview with MD Magazine , principle investigator Jacek Mazurek, MD, PhD, said there’s also an opportunity for health care providers to intervene more effectively. “Inadequate screening of workers for occupational exposures by health providers and lack of recognition of associations between workplace exposures and asthma symptoms remain the main reasons for underrecognition and underdiagnosis of work-related asthma.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers guidance for diagnosing work-related asthma at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/occupationalasthma/.