Reported occupational respiratory diseases in Catalonia

This is a one year only (as far as I can tell) voluntary surveillance scheme for occupational lung diseases in Catalonia, Spain, with a predominant input from occupational physicians. The working population is 2,253,783; similar to Finland and the population covered by Shield. Occupational asthma was the most commonly reported disease, with an incidence of 77.2/million/year (white collar workers 4.9; cleaners 96 and hairdressers 108). The commonest reported causes were isocyanates (15.5%); Persulphates (12.1%); Cleaning products (8.6%); Woods (8%); Flour (7.5%); Latex (6.9%); Glues and resins (4.6%); Colophony (4%); Animals (4%); Grain (2.3%); Aldehydes (2.3%). Official compensation statistics identified 42/174 of those with reported occupational asthma. There were also a large number of reported inhalational accidents (46) compared with other registries, perhaps because of the large occupational health input. Common industries were cleaning (26%); metal (22%); chemical (13%).

References

	Orriols R, Costa R, Alberti C, Castejon J, Monso E, Panades R, Rubira N, Zock J-P, Members of the Malaltia Ocupacional Respiratoria (MOR) Group, Reported occupational respiratory diseases in Catalonia, Occup Environ Med, 2006;63:255-260,

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