New causes of immunologic occupational asthma, 2012–2014

Abstract

There are more than 400 known causes of IOA and the list grows continuously with the development of new technologies and better recognition of the diagnosis by physicians. IgE-mediated sensitization was confirmed in all new cases involving high-molecular-weight agents and in two of the three new cases involving low-molecular-weight agents. Symptoms of rhinitis were often associated with both types of agents. Physicians should stay alert and suspect occupational asthma in any adult with new-onset asthma or with newly uncontrolled asthma.

Do chronic workplace irritant exposures cause asthma?

“…pre-existing asthma worsened by workplace conditions 2 . The number of identified occupational asthmagens (hazards known to induce asthma) increased regularly from approximately 150 before 2000 3 to probably almost 500 nowadays [4][5][6] .…”

Update of an occupational asthma-specific job exposure matrix to assess exposure to 30 specific agents

“…The burden of work-related asthma is underestimated partly due to limited knowledge about occupational exposure to well-established asthmagens 3. In addition, new asthmagens are constantly being reported 4. Occupational asthma is classically described as induced by a sensitiser (immunological asthma) or by a unique high-level accidental exposure to an irritant agent (non-immunological asthma) at work 1 3.…”

Lifetime allergic rhinitis prevalence among US primary farm operators: findings from the 2011 Farm and Ranch Safety survey

“…Allergic rhinitis, the most common form of rhinitis, is a hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immunoglobulin-E (IgE) response to high molecular weight and some low molecular weight agents, is categorized as seasonal (hay fever; occurring after exposure to outdoor aeroallergens, e.g., tree, grass, weed pollen) and perennial (occurring after exposure to indoor aeroallergens, e.g., dust mites, molds, animal allergens). Work-related rhinitis is characterized by intermittent or persistent symptoms caused by over 200 allergic or non-allergic factors in the workplace, and often coexists with work-related asthma (Cartier 2015; Stevens and Grammer 2015). Symptoms of work-related rhinitis improve when the patient is away from the work environment.…”

“…Among farm workers, rhinitis has been associated with grain farming and handling, livestock breeding, feed manufacture and handling, dairy farming, and cotton, flax, and hemp processing. Agents from these agricultural processes associated with rhinitis include gram-negative bacterial endotoxins, thermophilic bacteria, fungi, arthropod parts, grain dust, silica and silicate dust, pollens, gases, and pesticides (Cartier 2015; Quirce and Bernstein 2011; ATS 1998). …”