Casey Megan, Stanton Marcia L, Cummings Kristin J, Pechter Elise, Fitzsimmons Kathleen, LeBouf Ryan F, Schuler Christine R, Kreiss Kathleen
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015 Apr 24;64(15):411-4.
Work-related asthma is asthma that is caused or exacerbated by exposure to specific substances in the workplace. Approximately 10%-16% of adult-onset asthma cases are attributable to occupational factors, and estimates of asthma exacerbated by work range from 13% to 58%. During 2008-2012, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health received nine reports of work-related asthma among workers at a facility that manufactured syntactic foam used for flotation in the offshore oil and gas industry. These reports and a request from facility employees led to a CDC health hazard evaluation during 2012-2013 in which CDC reviewed records, toured the facility, and administered a questionnaire to current employees. Investigators found that workers' risk for asthma increased substantially after hire, possibly because of known asthma triggers (i.e., asthmagens) used in production. The company has since initiated efforts to reduce employee exposures to these substances. This cluster of work-related asthma was identified through CDC-funded, state-based surveillance and demonstrates complementary state and federal investigations.
职业性哮喘是指因接触工作场所中的特定物质而引发或加重的哮喘。约10%-16%的成人期哮喘病例可归因于职业因素，而因工作加重的哮喘估计比例在13%至58%之间。2008年至2012年期间，马萨诸塞州公共卫生部收到了9起关于一家为近海石油和天然气行业制造用于浮选的复合泡沫材料的工厂工人患职业性哮喘的报告。这些报告以及工厂员工的请求促使疾病预防控制中心在2012年至2013年期间进行了一次健康危害评估，疾病预防控制中心审查了记录、巡视了工厂，并向在职员工发放了问卷。调查人员发现，工人入职后患哮喘的风险大幅增加，可能是由于生产过程中使用的已知哮喘诱发因素（即致喘物）。此后，该公司已着手努力减少员工接触这些物质的机会。这组职业性哮喘病例是通过疾病预防控制中心资助的、基于州的监测发现的，展示了州和联邦调查的互补性。
