II. Pathophysiology
- Type of Work-Related Asthma
- Irritant-induced Asthma accounts for 10% of Occupational Asthma cases
- Allergic Occupational Asthma (sensitizer IgE mediated immune response) accounts for 90% of cases
- Irritants cause direct cell damage and inflammation
- Typically caused by a single, high exposure to an irritant
III. Symptoms
- Asthma symptoms occur within 24 hours of exposure
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Shortness of Breath
IV. Causes
- 2-DiethylAminoEthanolamine
- Acetic Acid
- Anhydrous ammonia
- Bleaching chemicals
- Burning paint fumes
- Chlorine gas (e.g. paper mill worker)
- Diesel exhaust fumes
- Free-based Cocaine
- Floor sealant
- Hydrochloric acid
- Hydrogen Sulfide
- Inhaled smoke fumes (e.g. firefighters, rescue workers)
- Irritant dust (e.g. construction worker, rescue worker)
- Phosgene
- Phosphoric acid
- Silicon
- Silo gas
- Sodium hydroxide
- Sulfuric acid
- Sulfur Dioxide (e.g. Coal-fired power plant)
- Tear Gas
- Toluene diisocyanate
- Trichlorosilane
- Welding fumes
- Zinc chloride
V. Management
- Manage as acute reactive airway disease
- Consult poison control and specific OSHA Safety Data Sheets
VI. References
- Brooks in Rom (1998) Environmental Medicine, p. 481-524
- Bebko (2016) Am Fam Physician 93(12): 1000-6 [PubMed]
- Youakim (2001) Am Fam Physician 64(11):1839-48 [PubMed]