Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases are associated with a variety of distinct causes
and account for a large number of occupational illnesses, injuries,
and deaths. Since 1991, NIOSH has periodically compiled, summarized,
and disseminated surveillance data on occupational respiratory diseases
[NIOSH 1991, 1994, 1996, 1999], including asthma and other airways diseases,
the pneumoconioses, and several other respiratory conditions. This section
provides selected surveillance data for many of these diseases.
Asthma
Work-related asthma (WRA) is the most common disease reported in the
occupational respiratory disease surveillance systems in several developed
countries. WRA is asthma that is caused or made worse by exposures in
the workplace. However, most cases are either not recognized as work-related
or not reported as such. Population-based estimates suggest that 15%–23%
of new-onset asthma cases in adults are work related [American Thoracic
Society 2004]. The SENSOR program has developed surveillance systems
for WRA. These systems require the following to confirm a case of WRA:
a health care professional’s diagnosis of asthma (or a related
diagnosis consistent with asthma) and an association between symptoms
of asthma and work.
Four States (California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey) maintained
WRA surveillance programs during the 7-year period (1993–1999)
represented by the SENSOR data included in this report. In all four
States, case reports from health care professionals were the main source
for identifying WRA cases (88.4% of the 2,526 cases) (Figure 2–161).
By occupation, the highest percentage of cases occurred among operators,
fabricators, and laborers (32.9%), followed by managerial and professional
specialty (20.2%), and technical, sales, and administrative support
jobs (19.2%) (Figure 2–162). Most cases were associated with the
manufacturing (41.4%) and services (34.2%) industries (Figure 2–163).
Agents most frequently associated with WRA were miscellaneous chemicals,
cleaning materials, and mineral and inorganic dust (Figure 2–164).
Reporting Sources
Which sources did SENSOR States use most to identify cases of WRA
during 1993–1999?
