Interestingly, some 250 agents may cause occupational asthma.
These agents are present in both manufacturing plants and offices.
Widely used in many industries, including automobile, airplane, train, and steel manufacturing, toluene isocvanates are responsible for most cases of occupational asthma.
This type of chemical is used in spray painting; insulation installation; and in the making of plastics, rubber, and foam.
Isocyanate-induced asthma affects nearly 10 percent of workers exposed to this chemical.
Other common triggers include dander from laboratory animals, dyes, formaldehyde, persulfate, chloramines-T, anhydrides, amines, proteolysis enzymes (used in detergents), cotton dust, gum acacia (a chemical used in color printing), and wood dust.
Exposure to plant products (for example, green coffee beans, papain, and castor beans), hydrochloric acid, ammonia, or sulfur dioxide also can trigger asthma.
Other potential irritants are cold, heat, dust, and humidity in the workplace.
Veterinarians and other animal workers may also develop asthma as a result of exposure to dander from animals.
Health care workers may get asthma symptoms from the aerosolized proteins found in latex gloves or when combining powdered medications.
Workers in places where flour is used in great amounts may get so-called baker's asthma.
Metal workers, carpenters, adhesive handlers, forest workers, seafood processors, hairdressers, cleaning staff, bakers, electronics workers, carpet makers, and pharmaceutical workers are among the many professionals who are at a higher risk for occupational asthma because of known asthma triggers in the workplace.
One way to identify the potential asthma triggers in your workplace is to ask for Material Data Safety Sheets.
By law, these sheets must be made available to all workers.
Your personnel office should have these sheets on file.
They list the chemicals and substances used in your particular workplace.
However, the sheets may not necessarily contain all the substances that may trigger your asthma.
With so many industries and occupations exposing their workers to these triggers, it's a wonder that anybody is ever well enough to actually go to work.
If you think you may have been or are being exposed to any of these agents, see your doctor for some testing, and for some peace of mind.