 |
Network Journal 2007 Issue 3 May/June |
 |
Asthma on the rise
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health have warned that occupational asthma is the fastest growing disease in the UK with between 1,500–3,000 new cases a year. That figure rises to over 7,000 if current sufferers made worse by work are included.
One of the biggest causes for Usdaw members is flour dust but there can be others. Recent cases have included exposure to sprayed vitamins in food production and to fumes from plastic wrapping equipment.
Asthma symptoms include attacks of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath; rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose) and conjunctivitis (itchy and inflamed eyes). Information on preventing occupational asthma is available from the British Occupational Health Research Foundation (BOHRF) and the charity Asthma UK.
For more information visit:
www.bohrf.org.uk/downloads/asthwork.pdf
www.asthma.org.uk
 Printer Friendly Page  Email to a Friend
|
