Swedish Study of 13,000 People Finds High-Risk Occupations for Asthma

A study of 13,000 people carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden has identified occupations that carry a higher risk of asthma. The study found that total incidence was 1.3 asthma cases per 1,000 men, and 2.4 cases per 1,000 women.

The high-risk occupations for asthma include:

• Spray painters, who are exposed to diisocyanates in paint
• Plumbers, who handle adhesives and foam insulation
• Cleaners, who handle detergents
• Health care and social services personnel, who are exposed to detergents and latex in latex gloves, especially if the gloves contain powder
• Food and tobacco industry workers, who are exposed to proteins from the vegetable kingdom
• Hair stylists, who handle chemicals in bleach and nail beauticians, who use fast-acting glue.