Only 12% of adolescent asthmatics had advice on job choices

A review of adolescents followed from the Epidemiological study of genetics and environment of asthma (EGEA) showed that only 12% of adolescent asthmatics had advice on job choices, and this was mainly in jobs with diving, flying and animal exposure. Those with more severe asthma avoided jobs with dust, gas or fume exposure more than those with less severe asthma. Asthma in parents also reduced the risk of dust, fume or gas exposure in the first job suggesting that parents were providing more advice than healthcare workers.

References

	Dumas O, Smit LAM, Pin I, Kromhout H, Siroux V, Nadif R, Vermeulen R, Heederik D, Hery M, Choudat D, Kauffmann F, Le Moual N, on behalf of the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA), Do young adults with childhood asthma avoid occupational exposures at first hire?, Eur Respir J, 2011;37:1043-1049,

Comments

I used to work as an Employment Medical adviser for the Health and Safety Executive, and part of my duties was to provide Local Authority Careers Officers with advice on the possible health implications of job choices for certain of their young clients. I've no idea how effective that advice was, though.

7/26/2011