Which agents cause occupational asthma and which workers are at risk?

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The workers reported from population studies to be at increased risk of developing asthma include bakers, food processors, forestry workers, chemical workers, plastics and rubber workers, metal workers, welders, textile workers, electrical and electronic production workers, storage workers, farm workers, waiters, cleaners, painters, plastic workers, dental workers and laboratory technicians.

Evidence

Jaakkola JJK, Piipari R, Jaakkola MS , Occupation and Asthma: A Population-based Incident Case-Control Study , Am J Epidemiol , 2003 ; 158 : 981-987

Johnson AR, DimichWardHD, Manfreda J et al , Occupational asthma in adults in six canadian communities , Am J Respir Crit Care Med , 2000 ; 162 : 2058-2062

Kogevinas M, Anto JM, Soriano JB, Tobias A, Burney P , The risk of asthma attributable to occupational exposures. A population-based study in Spain. Spanish Group of the European Asthma Study , Am J Respir Crit Care Med , 1996 ; 154 : 137-143

Kogevinas M, Anto JM, Sunyer J, Tobias A, Kromhout H, Burney P , Occupational asthma in europe and other industrialised areas: a population-based study , Lancet , 1999 ; 353 : 1750-1754