NIOSH Research Rounds
Inside NIOSH:
Preventing Work-related Asthma
Work-related asthma can occur when workplace exposure to a hazardous substance triggers symptoms in someone with asthma or causes new asthma to occur in someone who doesn’t already have it. Symptoms range from mild to severe and include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. More than 300 known or suspected substances in the workplace can cause or worsen symptoms of work-related asthma. It is important to identify and avoid these substances to prevent work-related asthma from occurring or getting worse.
Combinations of Some Cleaning and Disinfecting Agents Increase Asthma Risk
Cleaning and disinfecting agents are recognized as causes of asthma symptoms in healthcare workers. Recent research published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health used a technique called cluster analysis to evaluate relationships between exposures to different groups (clusters) of cleaning and disinfecting agents and experiences of different groups (clusters) of asthma symptoms.
Combined Work-related Asthma and COPD Linked to More Severe Symptoms and Healthcare Use
Up to one fifth of people diagnosed with asthma also have COPD. When asthma and COPD occur together, patients often have more severe symptoms than people with asthma alone. According to research published in the Journal of Asthma, adults with work-related asthma are more likely to also have COPD than those with nonwork-related asthma. Also, those with work-related asthma and COPD have more severe asthma symptoms than in those with nonwork-related asthma alone.
Unintentional Drug Exposures Highlight Need to Protect First Responders
In two recent incidents, law enforcement officers developed health symptoms after exposure to opioids and other drugs at work that prevented them from performing their duties. These incidents highlight the need for policies and procedures, as well as education and training about exposure prevention, according to a report published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
Outside NIOSH:
Safety Intervention Less Effective for Low-wage Workers
A safe patient-handling intervention decreased injuries among nurses, but not among lower-wage workers employed as patient care associates, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health.
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