Workplace to blame for adult asthma

29 January 2013 09:25

Researchers have linked asthma to certain jobs

Researchers have linked asthma to certain jobs

A recent study has linked certain professions and jobs to an increased risk of asthma. Scientists at Imperial College London suggested cleaners, farmers and hairdressers are more likely to suffer the condition because of their jobs. Farming more than quadrupled the risk and hairdressing almost doubled the risk.

Whether working as a farmer, a cleaner, or something completely different, people with asthma should arrange asthma travel insurance before jetting off for some winter sun. Records of around 7,500 British adults were examined in the study, monitoring their health from birth in the 1950s. It was also found workers with regular exposure to disinfectant or cleaning products, flour, metal and metal fumes were in the highest risk group of developing asthma.

Information collected at the ages of 7, 11, 16, 33 and 42 related to wheezy bronchitis or the symptoms of asthma, however the group under study excluded those who reported asthma symptoms before they turned 16.

Lead author, Dr Rebecca Ghosh of the MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London, said: "This study identified 18 occupations that are clearly linked with asthma risk, but there are others that did not show up in our analysis, mainly because they are relatively uncommon."

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