Workplace asthma under scrutiny

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Scientists have developed a database which aims to uncover the scale of the problem of occupational Asthma in the north east of Scotland.
Each year thousands of people in Britain develop symptoms through breathing substances at work which irritate their airways.

Researchers at Aberdeen University are now launching a system for monitoring workplace asthma.

They hope to gain a clearer picture of the problem and raise awareness. 

Chest physicians will be asked to input specific details about patients who suffer from occupational asthma, bronchitis and rhinitis into an online database.

Those who give permission will receive a follow-up questionnaire six months later.

The Scottish Shield system is being overseen by Professor Jon Ayres, head of the university’s department of environmental and occupational medicine.

He said: “Occupational asthma is under-recognised and yet occupation is the cause of asthma for around one in seven of all adults developing the condition during their adult life.

“The information from the database will enable us to get a better idea of the incidence of the condition in Scotland and will raise awareness of the risks of this exposure, thus helping us work with employers to reduce the risk to their workforce.

Removed from exposure

“While it is important to know how many people are affected by these conditions we know relatively little about what happens to them over time - whether they are still exposed to the agent which caused their condition at work, have they moved to another job and do they still have symptoms.

“This will help us better understand the benefits of removing them from exposure both from their own point of view and from that of the employer.”

About 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma are diagnosed in Britain each year, while another 7,000 people with asthma report that their work has made their condition worse.

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