Occupational asthma is asthma which is caused by exposure to a dust or irritant gas in the workplace. It is the commonest occupational lung disease seen today in Australia. Individuals with pre-existing asthma may also notice that their symptoms are worse after exposure to any one of a large number of substances they meet in their workplace. Occupational asthma may occur in any workplace. It is, however, much more likely to occur where workers are exposed to fine dusts of an organic nature such as flour, sawdust, grain dust, and proteins from small animals.
Many chemicals can also cause asthma.
These are found in the making and handling of various plastics and resins and the use of fluxes in soldering and in various smelters. The list is growing each day. Employers should have details of all materials to which workers are exposed. The symptoms are those of asthma no matter what the cause. They include difficulty in breathing, tightness across the chest, wheezing and cough.