Prevention of occupational asthma in Ontario.

Publisher: Canadian Science Publishing Country of Publication: Canada NLM ID: 0372712 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0008-4212 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00084212 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Can J Physiol Pharmacol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2011- : Ottawa, ON : Canadian Science Publishing
Original Publication: Ottawa, National Research Council of Canada.

Health Promotion*; Air Pollutants, Occupational/*adverse effects ; Asthma/*prevention & control ; Isocyanates/*adverse effects ; Latex Hypersensitivity/*complications ; Occupational Diseases/*prevention & control ; Primary Prevention/*methods; Asthma/diagnosis ; Asthma/epidemiology ; Asthma/etiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Latex Hypersensitivity/epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases/diagnosis ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases/etiology ; Occupational Exposure/prevention & control ; Ontario/epidemiology ; Population Surveillance

Occupational asthma continues to be one of the most common occupational lung diseases in industrialized areas. Primary and secondary preventive measures have been well described, but there are relatively few studies to support the effectiveness of such measures, although the benefits of tertiary measures such as early recognition and removal from further exposure to a causative sensitizing agent are well recognized. In Ontario, a combined approach of preventive measures has shown effectiveness in allergy and asthma from occupational exposure to natural rubber latex. In addition, a program to reduce exposure to diisocyanates and introduce medical surveillance was associated with earlier diagnosis and fewer cases in a compensation population. However there remain barriers to the early diagnosis of occupational asthma in Ontario, especially in workers of lower education and lower income. In addition, there is recognized need for further physician education to allow early suspicion and diagnosis of occupational asthma.

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0 (Air Pollutants, Occupational)
0 (Isocyanates)

Date Created: 20070510 Date Completed: 20070625 Latest Revision: 20121115

20250114

10.1139/y06-079

17487256