AsthmaWork-related asthma Who gets work-related asthma?
Anyone can get work-related asthma, including manicurists, firefighters, bakers, welders, hairdressers, and cleaners. Read Marcel's story about developing asthma on the job.
Some jobs put you at higher risk for work-related asthma. These are jobs where workers are most likely to handle things that cause or worsen asthma. There are hundreds of things that have been proven to cause or worsen asthma. Many of these are found in workplaces, including:
- Chemicals in paints, varnishes, adhesives, laminates, shellac and lacquer, plastics, epoxy resins, carpeting, foam and rubber, insulation, dyes
- Enzymes in detergents
- Animal proteins in animal dander, hair, scales, fur, saliva and body wastes.
- Plant proteins in natural rubber latex, flour, cereals, cotton, flax, hemp, rye, wheat and papain (a digestive enzyme that comes from papaya).
- Metals such as platinum, chromium, nickel sulfate and soldering fumes
- Smoke, second-hand tobacco smoke, chlorine gas and sulfur dioxide.
This chart lists jobs that have a higher risk of giving you work-related asthma. And it lists the things that can cause work-related asthma in each job.
| Job (Occupation) |
Things that can cause or worsen asthma |
| Autobody workers |
Acrylate in resins, glues, sealants, adhesives |
| Animal handlers, veterinarians, animal researchers, farmers |
Dander, hair, scales, fur, saliva and body wastes |
| Bakers, grain workers, farmers |
Cereal grains, flour, amylase, enzymes, tobacco |
| Carpet makers |
Gums |
| Dental hygienists |
Latex gloves, material for filings, impressions, disinfectants |
| Forestry workers, carpenters, sawmill workers, cabinetmakers, woodworkers |
Wood dust |
| Firefighters |
Smoke |
| Hairdressers |
Bleach, dye |
| Health care professionals |
Latex gloves, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, antibiotics, detergent enzymes |
| Janitors, cleaning staff |
Disinfectants , detergent enzymes, mixtures of chemicals (for example, mixing bleach and ammonia), fragrances |
| Jewellery, alloy and catalyst makers |
Platinum |
| Landscapers, gardeners, other outdoor workers |
Cold air, humidity, mould, pollens, smog pollution, exercise |
| Manicurists |
Acrylate in artificial nails |
| Office workers |
Mould, fungus, dust |
| Pharmaceutical workers |
Antibiotics, psyllium, enzymes |
| Printing industry |
Gum arabic, reactive dyes, acrylates |
| Seafood processors who work with lobster, crab, shrimp, clam, oyster, scallop, squid, mussel, whelk, sea urchins, sea cucumber |
Proteins in the shellfish |
| Shellac handlers |
Amines |
| Teachers |
Viral or other kinds of lung infections, mould, dust |
| Waiters, bar staff |
Second-hand smoke |
| Welders, refiners, metal platers |
Metals, nickel sulfate, solder fluxes |
| Spray painters, autobody shop painters, insulation installers, plastics and foam and foundry industry workers |
Diisocyanates, chemicals found in of polyurethane products like flexible and rigid foams, molded parts; coatings such as paints and varnishes; building insulation materials. |
| Textile workers |
Dyes |
| Users of plastics, epoxy resins |
Chemicals such as anhydrides |
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety website also offers a chart of jobs that put you at high risk for work-related asthma, and a long list of things that can cause asthma in each job.
Other things that can put you at higher risk for occupational asthma
If you have a family history of asthma, you might be at higher risk for occupational asthma. If you smoke, you are also at higher risk of occupational asthma.
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