http://www.occupationalasthma.com/forums.aspxNew Forum Questions added on www.occupationalasthma.com60http://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4569#commentsHow can I download the figures of the test, in a format that I can use for a publication.www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 14 May 2013 14:41:01 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=5058#commentsThis study looks at a wide range of skin prick test allergens available in Europe for flour (wheat, rye, Soy) Cow, storage mites and latex. The tests were carried out on 116 bakers, 47 farmers and 33 lkatex exposed workers, all with work-related rhinitis and/or asthma symptoms. Specific IgE usuing the Phadia ImmunoCap was used as the reference standard rather than the diagnosis based on specific challenge tests. A posive sIgE was >= 0.35kU/l. Eack skin tests was aplied twice in each individual, both were positive in 82% when at least one waas positive. i.e. a negative spt may me due to problems with the technique (as well as the antigen). There were substantial differences between antigens from different manufacturers, particularly for rye flor, storage mites and cow. The overall specificity (against sIgE) was 80-100%, but sensitivity was low, particularly for wheat and soy (<60%). The threshold which could be considered positive was often >1.5mm, particularly for flour antigens.www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 06 May 2013 19:02:53 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=5027#commentsGood study of Polish bakers referred for evaluation. Mean time from first symptom to challenge long (6.7 +/- 6.6 years for OA group) and latency also long (10.9 +/- 7.9 years for OA group). SIC with high levels of tipped flour for up to 3 hours (mean 33.6 +/- 12.3 mg/m3). SPT to wheat positive in 63/151 with wheat OA (41.7%) and 69/151 to rye. IgE to a baking antigen positive in 77.3% OA and PC20 <8mg in 73.6%. Positive wheat IgE plus NSBR <8 sensitivity 47.7% (specificity 87.7%). The data probably applies to a highly exposed group although workplace exposure levels are not givenwww.occupationalasthma.comTue, 12 Mar 2013 12:17:56 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=5029#commentsThe paper describes SIC with 0.1% solutions of Ni(NO3)2, CrCl3, Co(NO3)2, NH3VO3, Zn(NO3)2, MnCl2, Cd(NO3)2, all of which were negative in control asthmatics and a few positive in welders (nickel 3/20, Chrome 4/32, Cobalt 1/5 and manganese 1/1. The chrome was trivalent whereas most use hexavalent, the concentrations low.www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 12 Mar 2013 11:33:26 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_causative_agent.aspx?id=265#commentsi was exposed to man made, atomised wet and dry airborne seagull Guano approx 14 days ago on an installation offshore and subsequently my face neck and wrists were as i had been scalded and the skin fell of in flakes from forehead cheeks ears and eye lids,my face was swollen and eye lids were flaking.i have been informed that seagull Guano is very acidic and can be very dangerous if ingested internally,i have read up a little on the subject but as the days pass i feel more anxious about my loss of weight[3.5KGMS IN 10 DAYS],tight chest,pains in upper back.Should i be concerened?www.occupationalasthma.comSun, 03 Mar 2013 09:29:03 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1346I left school and went to work as a Pharmacology Laboratory Technician for over 2O years. I started work in 1987 when processes and procedures were not as good in this area as they are nowadays. My mother and brother are both asthmatics and I knew that I suffered from "hay fever" in the summer with runny eyes and sneezing. (Though I don't seem to have hay fever nowadays!). I have never been diagnosed with asthma, but after some time working (I really can't remember when this would have been now), I began to suspect that I was becoming allergic to animals at my work and via my GP, it was confirmed with skin prick tests that I was allergic to almost, if not all the animal species that I came into contact with. I was able to manage this reasonably well with various control measures (batter powered full face hood, nitrile gloves, annual lung function tests etc.) and as processes improved over the years, I didn't suffer too much because of it. I changed jobs four years ago and am now mainly office based. However, recently I experienced what I consider to be a delayed hypersensitive allergic/irritant skin reaction (urticaria) approximately 48hrs after a training session to be a qualitative face-fit tester. I believe that I may be one of the very few numbers of people that may be hypersensitive to bitrex (denatonium benzoate). There is so little research in this area, but there are sporadic reports of adverse respiratory and skin reactions in primarily the healthcare sector. Given my family history, my known allergies to animals and my known exposure to a fairly large number of substances over the years (including related bitrex-like subtances of local anesthetics such as lignocaine, xylocaine, procaine), could anyone give me their thoughts on my questions above and how I convince my OH Dept. that I think I do warrant an allergy text to this substance, to rule it in or out one way or another? Many thankswww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 31 Jan 2013 16:42:11 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4645#commentsI served in the military working in a motor pulled where I was exposed to diesel exhause for a period of 3 yeras. soon after i left the military i was disagnosed with asthma is this possible.www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 07 Jan 2013 14:35:47 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1338My friend got BFL from my bird in my apartment. She has not been back in the apt. since being diagnoised six months ago. She would like to visit again but we don't want it to make her sick. The bird was removed over five months ago. What should I do to insure she will not have a relapse? IE:Filters? furniture? walls? bedding? www.occupationalasthma.comSat, 05 Jan 2013 15:39:53 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1337My wife has been diagnosed with bird breeders lung and we are re-homing our birds. After we have cleaned the ducts and so on we are looking to have the air in our home tested for avian antigens. Does anybody know of a company that covers Seattle Washington that can do this kind of testing? Thank you Ronwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 21 Dec 2012 17:35:43 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=2380#commentsIt's trickery to get me to sign up for an article only to discover you don't have the article. For shame.www.occupationalasthma.comSun, 09 Dec 2012 23:11:04 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=5038#commentsSome oxidation products of limonene have high asthma hazard indiceswww.occupationalasthma.comTue, 04 Dec 2012 12:38:16 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4497#commentsHi! I need help! I don't understand why the PEF that I entered don't correspond to the PEF reported on the graph! In fact the daily max and the daily min are lower than they would be there. Thankswww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 30 Nov 2012 10:43:45 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1327My daughter helped some friends in Oregon (we live in CA) move. They had a basement type living area that she had to pack up everything. They had not used it for a while so naturally there was a lot of dust and some rat droppings and such. There was also a bird (I think some sort of parrott)that was in the room and she said it looked sickly. The day after she began helping she started having shortness of breath pretty bad. It has been over a month now and she is still really struggling with shortness of breath and exhaustion when walking around to much. We have taken her to a respiratory specialist and he says it is asthma cuased by her surroundings in OR. He has given her Adivar and prednizone neither of which have done any good so far. She has been on the Adivar for a month and she tried the predinozone for about 5 days. She is just as bad as the day she came home. Do you have any thoughts? She has never had a cough with it just very bad shortness of breath all day, every day ( like every third breath is difficult!!!) Thank You! www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 29 Nov 2012 16:15:51 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4980#commentsAn interesting paper showing how physicians are more likely to attribute carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain or shoulder pain to work rather than asthma, even when there is a good history of work-relationshipwww.occupationalasthma.comSun, 23 Sep 2012 17:13:31 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1311This may not be the right forum but I bet there are people reading this who are expert. Regarding health Surveillance for welders and COPD. Any views on what would constitute a concerning fall in spirometric function? I plot FEV 1, FVC and FEV1/FVC serially and see people on a downward trend and obviously those that meet the diagnostic criteria for COPD. It's those on a downward trend I'd like to put some more concrete guidance to. What is a normal age related drop off? What is a suitable sensitive and specific level to use as a warning? I find there isa presumably technique /efort related variation anyway whcih we are working to try to improve. We needn't get into the debate about does welding really cause COPD or is it only in welders who smoke for now unless anyone is keen.www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 13 Sep 2012 13:03:33 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1307I have an employee who makes models mainly from soft wood, and fibreboard. After 25 years or so he recently presented with minor upper respiratory symptoms so we asked for serial peak flows and used OASYS to plot the results. These show a convincing work related drop in peak flows with recovery at weekends and holidays. Dust from his work seems the likely explanation but there are period vehcle movements (DEE) and other tasks not too far away (mild steel weld some minimal use of solvents and adhesives). I am reasonably convinced he has early Occ Asthma- My question is that if I wanted to prove it was wood dust rather than other causes is there a way to do this? Such clarification may help with his redeployment.www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 10 Sep 2012 13:34:39 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4888#commentsI need to find out how to get this full text? It will not pull up? Thanks, Patrick, RNwww.occupationalasthma.comSun, 26 Aug 2012 19:11:47 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4606#commentspls let us know How to get the full text?! Thanks, Patrick, RNwww.occupationalasthma.comSun, 26 Aug 2012 18:25:34 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4962#commentsCat allergen could still be detected in classrooms from children who were not allowed to have domestic cats, or when children and staff changed to clean clothes on school entry. Both resulted in lower levels of exposure than control classroomswww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 03 Aug 2012 10:44:22 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=2858#commentsI am a 45 year old man who worked in an concrete production environment that was extremely dusty with cement dust and then for two and a half years the company began to use a cement product that was blended with PFA. I was medically retired in October of 2010 with a list of illnesses caused by the ash which included ILD and Diverticulosis of the bowel. I have bladder problems, oesophagel problems, skin, corneal, gastrointestinal, lips, eye sockets, tongue, eyelids problems and had my mucous membranes burned and my gums burned away to the point of the exposing of all of the roots of my teeth bar 3. I developed pneumonia in my left lung and the ILD left me with several nodules throughout both lungs, rhinitis, asthsma, hypersensitivity, connective tissue disorder and only The Good Lord knows what else was caused by this "ACIDIC, HIGHLY TOXIC AND CARCINOGENIC " product.www.occupationalasthma.comSat, 14 Jul 2012 20:45:00 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4959#commentsThe paper descibes a very large number of occupational challenges done in Montreal. Immediate asthmatic reactions from low molecular weight antigens on average last 10 minutes longer than those from high molecular weight antigens. The paper also has interesting information on changes in NSBR following a positive challenge, A >3.2 fold change was seen following 32% if HMW and 21% of LMW reactions. This was not related to the magnitude of the immediate reaction. The information on induced sputum is a little unclear, but c45% had <1% eosinophils. Sputum eosiniphilia was not related to the duration of the immediate reaction. As with all retrospective studies of this type, it would have been better to split the population into 2 groups, the first to generate the hypothesis and cut-offs for relevant changes, and the second group to test the hypothesis on data that was not used to generate the hypothesis.www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 05 Jul 2012 10:55:36 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4919#commentsThis is a further evidence-based review supporting complete removal from exposure over exposure reduction The authors grade the quality of evidence as very low using Cochrane methodology, and make the following recomendations for future research into outcomes of occupational asthma including randomisation of workers into removal from exposure or exposure reductionable. It would need a very special employment situation to be able to do this. " Future studies should include greater numbers of participants and collect better information on exposure,duration of symptoms before diagnosis, duration of symptoms before the intervention and report more fully on asthma symptoms, FEV1 and NSBH before, during and after the intervention. Studies are needed to fully evaluate the effect of reduction of exposure, through either personal protective equipment or education of workers after exposure is minimised, as far as reasonably achievable. Given the uncertainty of the effect of reduction of exposure and the beneficial effects of continued employment on health, these studies should randomise participants to reduction of exposure or removal from exposure" Using the Bradford Hill Criteria for casation from epidemiological studies the data stacks up strongly. The strength of the asssociation between exposure removal and reduction is high, it is biologically plausable, repeated in many different populations, has "dose-response" (earlier removal better and exposure reduction worse). It has temporal plausability.www.occupationalasthma.comSun, 01 Jul 2012 16:54:00 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4878#commentsThe authors grade the quality of evidence as very low using Cochrane methodology, and make the following recomendations for future research into outcomes of occupational asthma including randomisation of workers into removal from exposure or exposure reductionable. It would need a very special employment situation to be able to do this. " Future studies should include greater numbers of participants and collect better information on exposure,duration of symptoms before diagnosis, duration of symptoms before the intervention and report more fully on asthma symptoms, FEV1 and NSBH before, during and after the intervention. Studies are needed to fully evaluate the effect of reduction of exposure, through either personal protective equipment or education of workers after exposure is minimised, as far as reasonably achievable. Given the uncertainty of the effect of reduction of exposure and the beneficial effects of continued employment on health, these studies should randomise participants to reduction of exposure or removal from exposure" Using the Bradford Hill Criteria for casation from epidemiological studies the data stacks up strongly. The strength of the asssociation between exposure removal and reduction is high, it is biologically plausable, repeated in many different populations, has "dose-response" (earlier removal better and exposure reduction worse). It has temporal plausability.www.occupationalasthma.comSun, 01 Jul 2012 16:51:28 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=763#commentsThe DLCO was corelated with CXR score, as was better than the TLC. FEV1/FVC ws normal in all, but there is no analysis of individual FEV1 or FVC values. This does not help select the best outcome measure for specific challenge tests when EAA is the outcomewww.occupationalasthma.comMon, 25 Jun 2012 20:33:38 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4952#commentsA brief more accessible version of the full report de Groene GJ, Pal TM, Beach J, Tarlo SM, Spreeuwers D, Frings-Dresen MH, Mattioli S, Verbeek JH , Workplace interventions for treatment of occupational asthma , Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , 2011 ; 5 : 1-93www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 21 Jun 2012 08:24:04 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4948#commentsFirst case report of specific IgE to spruce woodwww.occupationalasthma.comSun, 17 Jun 2012 16:19:47 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1281Hi, I've had problems since Feb last year, and occupational asthma has been diagnosed as a possible cause. I've never had asthma before and had an onset of breathing difficulties over a two day period. Had a few episodes and hospital stays since then and put it down to the chemicals i was using at the time. However I'm monitoring my peak flows and they seem to drop throughout the shift even when that chemical is not in the environment. Granted it drops quite lower when it is, and can be quite instant. If my asthma was initiated by a chemical or particular process in work am I now vulnerable to other things such as heat,airborne powder, increased activity ? Any help, most appreciated. Thanks Alanwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 15 Jun 2012 10:31:46 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4560#commentsHow would you interprete these reports: www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 12 Jun 2012 11:02:48 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1275I have a hairdresser friend who had a severe asthma attack while hairdressing, could this be due to exposures in the salon?www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 11 Jun 2012 20:43:36 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4938#commentsThis paper provides the best evidence from an industrialised country that occupational asthma,at least from some causes, is on the decline. The strength of the study include the compulsory notification of referrals to all the university occupational lung referral centres in France. The relative proportion of notifications for the main agents overcomes some of the problems of referral and reporter bias, but cannot differentiate between exposures which have been brought under control, and those exported to other countries. Latex and aldehydes are two health-care related agents on the decline, as found in several other studies, but isocyanate asthma is also on the decline. Occupational asthma in hairdressers is static, and cleaning agents as a cause of occupational asthma is on the increase.www.occupationalasthma.comSat, 02 Jun 2012 15:10:17 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1266I am helping a friend with something. She owns and runs a successful racehorse training stables and employs 25 people. Recently a company has made an application for planning permission to build 5 large sheds housing 223000 broiler chickens. The vents from the buildings will be within a few metres of where the staff walk or ride the horses up to the gallops. Each member of staff (and horses) will pass the extraction fans 8 to 10 times per day. We have information from the company applying for the planning permission indicating that amonia and dust from the chickens bedding will be funnelled downwind. The most common wind direction will be straight over my friend's racing stables. She is concerned about the health of her employees (and the horses but a vet is advising her on that). We have been on the Health and Safety Executive web-side and see that there is a lot of information and advice for people who work inside chicken sheds. Is there a health risk to my friend's employees if they are exposed to the dust extracted 8 to 10 times per day?www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 01 May 2012 11:01:57 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4899#commentsThe audit tool, against which clinical activity should be measured, is revised as follows. All patients with suspected OA should, as a minimum, have the following clearly documented in their health records. By first visit o Presence or absence of asthma prior to potentially harmful asthmagen exposure at work o Presence or absence of work-related eye or nasal symptoms o Presence or absence of work-related respiratory symptoms and their duration o A full list of occupations held, their durations, and likely associated occupational exposures o Current ongoing asthmagen exposure o Whether other workers at the same workplace are affected o FEV1, FVC, and the degree of airflow limitation, compared to predicted values By second visit o If at work and appropriate; serial PEF measurements taken for at least 3 continuous weeks including rest days, with at least 4 good quality readings per day, analysed to assess work relatedness. o If performed, the results of non specific bronchial responsiveness o If exposed to allergen with appropriate specific IgE measure or skin prick test, the result of this test. www.occupationalasthma.comSun, 29 Apr 2012 18:07:31 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4909#commentsFurther evidence from a communitiy study implicating cleaning sprays in the aetiology of asthma and its severitywww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 20 Apr 2012 10:16:24 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4561#commentsThe PEFR shows a very wide daily variability of greater than 20% and is suggestive of asthma.www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 16 Apr 2012 01:12:38 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4483#commentsI can't get the data sheet to come up for a new person. What's up with that? How can I?www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 04 Apr 2012 15:58:38 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1244Hi I wondered if starch dust above WEL's could be a potential asthmagen? If not, would anyone consider spirometry as baseline and regular being required to monitor for COPD? Dust masks are being used whilst engineering controls are being looked at. thank you in anticipationwww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 08 Mar 2012 19:41:17 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_causative_agent.aspx?id=191#commentsUnited International Inc. produce and export Long chain dicarboxylic acids Dodecanedioic Acid (DDDA) with ISO9001 certificate. We produce DDDA through fermentation method based bioprocesses. Now, please find following specification: Product name: Dodecanedioic Acid (DDDA, DC12P, DC12S, DC12D) CAS No.: 693-23-2 EINECS No.: 211-746-3 Formula: HOOC(CH2)10COOH Molecular weight: 230.30 Appearance: White powder Boiling Point: 245 oC (10 mmHg) Flash point: 220 oC Water solubility: < 0.1 g/L (20 oC) Total Acids : 99.0% min. Dodecanedioic Acid: 98.5% min. Melting Point: 128.5?~131.0? Moisture: 0.4% max. Ash: 30ppm max. Iron: 3ppm max. Color/Transmittance(440nm/550nm,T%):96/98 min. Package: 25/500/1000kg net bag Shipment: 15mt net per 20' FCL without pallet (25kg bag) 10mt net per 20' FCL with pallet (25/500/1000kg bag) Application: engineering plastics, ploy-carboned nylon or polyamides and its products. It is main content of nylon 1212, nylon 612, and nylon 1012, intermediate for aromatic (MUSK-T), top-grade lubricant, lubricant antiseptic and painting material for luxurious sedan. Our factory also produce others Dibasic Acids (Dicarboxylic Acids) like: --DC11 - Undecanedioic Acid (CAS NO.: 1852-04-6) Mainly used for compound of engineer plastics, such as nylon 1111, compound of perfume and pesticide. --DC12P, DC12S, DC12D (Dodecanedioic Acid, DDDA, DDA) (CAS NO.: 693-23-2) --DC13 - Brassylic Acid (CAS NO.: 505-52-2) Mainly used in top-grade essence, perfume and artificial musk-T, packing material for foodstuff, also main material for nylon 1313 --DC14P, DC14S, DC14D - Tetradecanedioic Acid (CAS NO.: 821-38-5) Mainly used in compound of perfume, advanced engineering plastics, nylon 1414, adhesives and sealants, and coatings. --DC15 - Pentadecanedioic Acid (CAS NO.: 1460-18-0) Used in synthesizing, exaltolide,artificial musk, the latter can substitute musk for synthesizing herbal medicine, which have effects such as antibiotic and invigorating the circulation of the blood --DC16 - Hexadecanedioic acid (CAS NO.: 505-54-4) Mainly used in pharmaceutical. If you are interested please feel free to contact with us. Best regards, Nickle Shang (Mr.) Sales Manager Rui Yuan United International Inc. Qingdao Free Trade Zone United International Co., Ltd 18/F, Huaren International Building, 2A Shandong Road, Qingdao, China 266071 Tel: +86-532-86069596;83891501~9 Fax: +86-532-83893695 Ext:16 Moible Phone: +86-13964283007 SKYPE: nickleshang Email: NickleShang@teriocorp.com MSN: AutumnNickle@hotmail.com Yahoo Messenger: TerioCorporation@yahoo.com.cn www.unitedint.com www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 07 Mar 2012 10:18:30 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4557#commentsWe work in occupational diseases and we need whole information about Oasys. We want to buy the peak flow meter and the software for use in our patients We are really intereasing in your program and we hope your answer soon Thanks in advance Respiratory group HTS. www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 02 Feb 2012 16:36:06 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1230Is is 10,000 Da or 1,000 Da or what is the cutting off point that says anything over this is HMW and anything under is LMW?www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 25 Jan 2012 15:37:23 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1228We have a 60 yr old lady that got loft insulation done with fibreglass. A few days later developed allergic symptoms not helped with antihistamines. She got admitted to hospital and felt better within a couple of hours away from the house and was discharged the following day. CT showed no alveolitis (only a 2mm granuloma RUL). On return to the house, she has recurrence of symptoms which always improve away from the house. This is despite the house being industrial cleaned. The history is suggestive of hypersensitivity to fibreglass. This lady asked for allergy tests for this www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 12 Jan 2012 16:36:05 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1226Do occuptional asthma and work-agravated asthma have different employment outcomes?www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 09 Jan 2012 11:22:01 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1221Hi I have a lady who works in a supermarket replenishing shelves (usually toilet rolls in plastic wrapping) who states that for 6 weeks she had symptoms of runny nose and eyes and red itchy eyes when ever she came into work and these symptoms ceased the moment she walked out the doors (She is currently sicknoted for chronic neck pain whcih she reports flares ups include severe headaches (A flare up was noted at a similar time to these symptoms)and has noted no respiratory symptoms since her absence despite ongoing neck symptoms. She tells me her GP has suggested it could be fluroscent lighting? Is this possible or could there be any other cause - she does pull pallets out using a pallet truck but otherwise only replensishes. thank you very much in advance Janetwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 06 Jan 2012 12:12:42 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4879#commentsWorkers with shortness of breath less likely to use RPE (35% vs 59%)www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 21 Dec 2011 10:42:15 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4873#commentsnew simpler method for measuring nitrogen trichloride in swimming pool airwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 18 Nov 2011 11:16:43 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1212I have a patient who seems to be having problems relating to diesel fumes at work. Could you guide me to any recent review of literature on this subject?www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 17 Nov 2011 11:06:32 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1208 Do you have an abstract/publication ref for your foam cutters with asthma? www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 30 Sep 2011 11:48:39 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4845#commentsLatent interval from first exposure to first work-related symptom longer than in previous prospective studies. Work-related breathlessness mean latent interval 63 mon ths, shorter for those with specific IgE to flour or amylase (24 months) than in those with similar symptoms and negative IgE ((69 months)www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 24 Aug 2011 20:59:55 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1204We appear to have a number of cases of asthma in furniture upholsterers which may be occupational. What might be the cause if so? www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 23 Aug 2011 15:35:38 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1202Hi I am trying to delete a day from the recod by applying the discontinue option but that does not work. would you please tell me excatly what to do. Thank you www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 18 Aug 2011 13:26:34 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1199Do you know anything about HP/EAA in orthopaedic surgeons.I can't find much on the net? He has had clear cut HP and on this occasion responded well to steroids. He may well have had a previous episode when he also went on Christmas holiday www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 08 Aug 2011 18:28:20 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4837#commentsThis study unexpectedly found that the increase in non-specific reactivity (nsbr) seen after a late asthmatic reaction was absent in mild asthmatics who smoked but present in the non-smokers as expected. A hypothesis presented was that increased CO in smokers may inhibit cGMP in bronchial muscles (as found in mice). However exhaled CO was not measured in this study. Although the challenges in this study were with environmental allergens (mainly ragweed and cat)the finding may account for the lack of nsbr found in about 30% of workers with occupational asthmawww.occupationalasthma.comWed, 27 Jul 2011 21:22:51 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4814#commentsI used to work as an Employment Medical adviser for the Health and Safety Executive, and part of my duties was to provide Local Authority Careers Officers with advice on the possible health implications of job choices for certain of their young clients. I've no idea how effective that advice was, though. www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 26 Jul 2011 11:35:35 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4823#commentsThis study shows that Swedish petshop workers have similar levels of sensitisation to laboratory animal workers. Those who sell mice (and dont have pet mice at home), have measurable levels of mouse urinary antigen in their homes, about 10% of the level at work. This could lead to sensitisation in those sharing the home, in the same way as been described with platinum saltswww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 21 Jul 2011 16:56:47 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1189I have been told that I can't have occupational asthma as the isocyanate levels at work are always at safe levels, is this true?www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 21 Jul 2011 16:32:53 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4827#commentsMouse urinary antigen 3.5 times higher in homes from non-mouse owners who petshops had mice compared with workers in petshops without mice. Levels at home about 10% of those at workwww.occupationalasthma.comWed, 20 Jul 2011 16:57:30 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1185I am writing a protocol to try to standardise the health surveillance we do for Occupational asthma and occupational lung disease. Should spirometry be done standing up or sitting down please?www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 15 Jul 2011 17:11:17 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1184I am performing health surveillance for a mixed farming group (mushroom workers, dairy, crops, poultry and welders). I am trying to look and health surveillance results logitudinally and set a "trigger" for a referral level to myself by the OHA (as well as adult onset asthma,symptoms, persistent chest illness or a positive questionnaire). How much decline can I allow in FVC and FEV1, PEFR please?www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 15 Jul 2011 17:08:51 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1182I've been diagnosed with baker's asthma, have been away from bakery dust for 7 weeks, and just as you predicted in your response to my previous question, my recovery has been dramatic during the first three months. I've tested positive to baker's yeast. Should I avoid eating it.? Can the smell of an item after cooking aggravate lungs., if it's still warm, after it's cooled.? Any reading material suggestions would be appreciated. This website has been a god-sent. I've recommended it to my doctors.:) Thank you, Kimwww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 14 Jul 2011 19:08:29 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1179I was working at an engineering firm, to start with i was welding zinc plated/galvanized metal to large frames. the metal had been pre painted in primer and top coated in enamel paint, this gave off large amounts of fume, to which i had no protection from. I was then asked to spray paint jobs as they was completed, these jobs was first sprayed in a primer then sprayed with a top coat of enamel. some of the paints and primers contained lead chromate and zinc chromate pigments. these been mixed with such VOC's as tolurene xylene and MEK's, to thin them down to spray. in one job i was spraying for over a 5 hour period. the only PPE available was that of a 3m paper mask. within 2 to 3 months of starting this job i began to have breathing problems. i noticed that on a weekend my breathing improved. i went to my Gp as my breathing was getting worse. not been able to see him, and seeing the practice nurse i was told it was just a cold i had ,. I took a week off work, and within a few days i felt much better and returned to work. By this time I had been spraying for around 4 months, as well as doing some welding. some of my work was around stainless steel welding. later i was feeling very ill with my breathing. I went back to my GP again. this time he did some tests, and refered me to a speciaist, who diagnosed me as having occupational asthma. I then began the process of making a claim for compensation. In the last 3 years I have under gone a number of tests and it was confirmed that i had OA. I had to obtain MSDS information on the paints and thinners i used , as it was the painting that was suspected of causing my illness. having got this information my claim progressed until a few weeks ago. I my self have ended up having to find out information online as it seems that my solicitors and there medical team seem to be having problems in now proving my claim. both my doctor and the defendents both agree that it is due to sensitisation to Cr VI chromates, also the engineer as said the same. but there engineer claims that it is not! even though there as been a great deal of evidence stating that these things are a known sensitiser. also they seem not to be able to say IF i was exposed long enough to become sensitised. even though I was welding items that release Cr VI fumes as well as spraying paints with Cr VI pigments in. information as been found that says that a single large exposure can cause sensitisation from a number of studies in to OA. Yet i have now been told that my case may now collapse. could you please give me some advice as to weather with all the types of exposure that i have had is it possible for sensitisation to happen. I would be very greatful for any advice you maybe able to offer.www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 07 Jul 2011 20:04:43 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4825#commentsno mention of relationship between IgE and occupational diseasewww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 07 Jul 2011 19:14:05 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4458#commentsI have run the Oasys start up, but cannot communicate with the Oasys server. I'm online, have seen from the test page that the Oasys server is running, so I wonder whether it's the firewall. Have you had any problems with the Welsh NHS firewall? NHS.net doesn't extend to Wales - don't know if that's relevant or not - Thankswww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 07 Jul 2011 14:01:41 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4822#commentsno mention of asthmawww.occupationalasthma.comMon, 04 Jul 2011 16:12:59 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=82#commentsThank you for the article. It is so helpful when you can find help when needed. I too have been recently diagnosed with asthma which the specialist thinks may be due to my job. I'm also in need of equipment, peak flow meter and pulse oximeter. Anyone heard of www.thomasmedical.com? Thanks in advance for any information.www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 28 Jun 2011 00:11:13 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1162I've just been diagnosed with bakers asthma, owned my own bagel shop for 15 years, and worked there part time for new owners until receiving diagnosis, when I quickly "retired". If a recovery is possible, how long until condition starts to improve.? I'd say symptoms of rhinitis were present for last 3/4 years, and shortness of breath/fatigue the last 2 years. Thank you, Kimwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 27 May 2011 19:29:08 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4820#commentsmostly domestic but includes 2 with oawww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 26 May 2011 14:53:06 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4819#commentsInteresting review, mainly non-occupationalwww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 26 May 2011 14:46:48 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1155I was consulted by a 33 year old woman who developed asthma after two years of exposure to chromite ore during underground chromite mining. Other exposure was diesel exhaust emissions. Symptoms worse at work and improved away from work. No smelter on site so exposure was only to chromite dust (not chrome salts or chrome fume). I think this is work-exacerbated asthma as chromites have not been convincingly shown to be a cause of OA. Please let me know if you have information on chromite and occupational asthma Thank you www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 20 May 2011 10:59:59 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_causative_agent.aspx?id=301#commentsAlso known as mace or nutmegwww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 19 May 2011 20:07:40 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_causative_agent.aspx?id=73#commentsasked for second time to comment on health worker symptomatic after exposure to higher conc actichlor. Any similar experience? Not sure why listed uinder chrome fumeswww.occupationalasthma.comWed, 18 May 2011 15:13:34 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=1849#commentsA four-fold change in methacholine Pc20 was seen in 16/49 with sensitizer-induced occupational asthma (clinical diagnosis, some with challenges). 19/49 had supporting PEF changes (denominator of those actually doing the test not stated) Irritant induced asthma seen in 15, (No prior asthma, onset within 24 hours of a high exposure to a respiratory irritant on one or more occasions,symptoms persisting for at least 3 months, bronchodilator response or NSBR,) 3/15 had more than 6 months latency to similar exposures, 2/3 had NSBR work-related changes. These 3 probably had work-related pef and symptom changes ( welder,calcium oxide,phisgene/HCl).www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 18 May 2011 13:03:29 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4810#commentsThese are club athletes rather than elite national swimmers. The type of pool is not stated. The NSBR improves away from intense training, but swimmers remain more reactive than non-swimmers. The conclusion that NSBR is transitory are overstatedwww.occupationalasthma.comTue, 26 Apr 2011 12:01:34 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4811#commentsReally a cross-sectional study at the start of a surveillance programme compared with workers diagnosed with occupational asthma presenting clinically (historical controls). Those identified by surveillance had less NSBR and recovered better than the historical controls (2 years after removal from exposure no treatment and normal NSBR 34% vs 16%, p=0.02). They also cost the Quebec compensation scheme, which includes less (11,893 Canadian $ including retraining compared with Can $19,462 for the historical controls. The screened group had symptoms for a mean 5.2 years and had worked with isocyanates for a mean 12.9 years, representing a late onset of disease group. The figures for those actually with OA are not given. The original screening was with questionnaire identifying 6.3% of isocyanate spray painters (n=182). Of these 103 were thought not to have OA after a medical. 79 were referred for investigation, NSBR <8mg/ml in 55/79. 20 had positive isocyanate challenges (0.69% of the original cohort). 42% of the 22 with challenge positive OA had normal NSBR (interval from last exposure not stated) The cost comparison was the lump sum paid after 2 years by the Quebec compensation scheme based on age and residual disability. It is cheaper to identify spray painters with occupational asthma with screening than to wait for them to present clinically. www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 13 Apr 2011 17:57:51 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4809#commentsThis is an interesting paper, but all the analysis is retrospective and requires prospective validation. Although there was a relationship between sputum eosinophilia, NSBR and occupatiuonal asthma both together and separately, the negative combination is not enough to exclude occupational asthma (negative predictive value 58% when compared with non-occupational asthma. There is no particular reason why NSBR or sputum eosinophilia should be diffeent in occupational and non-occupational asthma. If non-asthmatics are include the negative predictive value is higher. It shows that there are workers with challenge positive occupational asthma where both the NSBR and sputum eosinophils are normal when investigated a median 76 days after last exposure (Interquartile range 1 to 173, showing at least 25% were currently exposed at the time of the challenge). Median interval from last exposure to challenge 76 days. 65/129 with OA had sputum eosinophils <1%; 37/129 >3%. NSBR normal (>16mg/ml) in 35/129 with OA (27%). Positive prictive value of OA for eosinophils >1% 44% and >3% 49%. Negative predictive value of OA versus non-OA 58% for spuum eosinohils <1% and 30% for NSBR >16mg/ml. Negative predictive value of Pc20 >16mg/ml and eosinophils <1% 58% against non-occupational asthma.www.occupationalasthma.comSat, 02 Apr 2011 14:24:56 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1140Im concerned about pesticides? Herbicides used near were i work ? im having thyroid trouble , insomnia, tremour in left hand , hair loss , muscle pain.C an you advise if we need to wear respiritory mask ? www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 28 Mar 2011 10:35:46 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=80#commentsUnfortunately, breathing in various fumes, dust, gases and vapours within the workplace can cause Occupational asthma. A work related lung disease is extremely serious and potentially dangerous health problem that can ruin lives. Wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and painful coughing are just some of the symptoms that occupational asthma sufferers may have to deal with on a daily basis. Occupational Asthma Claim questions: Do you think your asthma or respiratory problem may have been caused or worsened by work? Have you worked at that company in the last 3 years? If you can answer 'Yes' to these questions you may be entitled to claim compensation. Our compensation services are free. For more free advice email me at support@asthmaclaims.net or view our asthma forum at www.asthmaclaims.net William www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 17 Mar 2011 11:19:02 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4589#commentsScore Chart Predictors in the Model Value Score Symptoms indicative for asthma Score 1 if "YES" to at least one of the following questions: * Have you had wheezing or whistling in the last 12 months? * Have you had an attack of shortness of breath in the last 12 months? * Ever diagnosed asthma by physician * Do you ever start to cough induced by exercise, strenuous work, cold air, heavy smell, smoke, or dust? Allergic symptoms Score 2 if "YES" answer to at least one of the following questions: ?? Do you develop eye or nasal or respiratory or skin symptoms when exposed to common allergen such as dust mite, animal hair or pollen? ?? Do you ever have an itchy runny nose or sneezing even when you do not have a cold? ?? Have you ever had "hay fever"? Risk of sensitisation to laboratory animals after 32 months of training Sum score 0, 1, 2, 3 0 3% 1 7% 2 18% 3 37% Symptoms indicative for asthma Score 1 if "YES" to at least one of the following questions: * Have you had wheezing or whistling in the last 12 months? * Have you had an attack of shortness of breath in the last 12 months? * Ever diagnosed asthma by physician * Do you ever start to cough induced by exercise, strenuous work, cold air, heavy smell, smoke, or dust? Allergic symptoms Score 2 if "YES" answer to at least one of the following questions: ?? Do you develop eye or nasal or respiratory or skin symptoms when exposed to common allergen such as dust mite, animal hair or pollen? ?? Do you ever have an itchy runny nose or sneezing even when you do not have a cold? ?? Have you ever had "hay fever"? Incidence of symptoms at work in laboratory animals after 32 months of training Sum score 0, 1, 2, 3 0 1% 1 4% 2 23% 3 44% www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 16 Mar 2011 17:04:31 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4741#commentsIt looks like Joan Longbottom seated at the far bench, who is standing?www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 01 Mar 2011 17:13:12 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1118I downloaded 'Oaysys 2010' from 'Oasys' and the website says you can 'import patient details' by clicking on the 'Import Patient Details' option from the 'tools' menu. I tried this but there isn't an 'import patient details' option on the 'tools' menu. Can anyone tell me why this is. Thankswww.occupationalasthma.comWed, 19 Jan 2011 16:21:11 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1116Please assist. I am using the new web based OASYS and if printing an OASYS patient report on a black and white printer, the work days are in black and therefore the daily graph is obscured behind it. Is there any way to change this as I do not have a colour printer at work and the daily chart print out is not very clear at all if printed at work.www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 14 Jan 2011 10:14:08 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4785#commentsOasys scores related less well to symptoms than cross-shift changes in FEV1 in this group of textile workers. The disease causing the symptoms was less clearwww.occupationalasthma.comMon, 10 Jan 2011 14:39:48 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1111I have seen two cases of Occupational Asthma recently in employees working in ship repair. Exposures are welding fume, metal dust from grinding, diesel fume, solvents, Epoxy paint. My suspicion is with the epxoy paint. Does anyone have experience of IgE or skin prick tests for epoxy? Does anyone know of a lab that can do the assay?www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 06 Oct 2010 09:28:43 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1108I have a patient who has asthma and who reports that it developed after heavy exposure to fly ash from coal in a power station. Fly ash may have been contaminated with unspecified agents, patient unsure. No prior history of asthma, day of exposure 2-3 hours very dusty - could not see accross the workplace, next day "burning lungs" and cough, progressively worse over following days with tight chest. Asthma diagnosed some months later. As far as I can see no literature on fly ash induced asthma, but convincing history. Does any one have experience of a similar case? Thankswww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 30 Sep 2010 12:39:45 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4759#commentsOccupational asthma uncommon 89 cases, 40 RADS, 7 unspecified and 42 sensitisation Bakers 22 Isocyanates 16 Solvents 10 Wood dusts 6 Chlorine 5 Dust 5 (includes a truck driver) Paint fumes 4 Animals 3 www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 15 Sep 2010 11:36:57 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1104Can anybody help? I have a small amount of funding and looking for some help, guidance and support in providing e-learning to help those with Asthma be better informed and supported. I am hoping to make this available free of charge via a new website called (under construction) clickmyhealth.co.uk - in time other conditions will be added. Please do get in contact with me at chris.mason@eblend.co.uk if you are interested. I will need some clinical help as well. Many thanks!www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 13 Sep 2010 11:36:58 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_pageview.aspx?id=4459#commentsi just completed saving a patient's information when I got a report that an enexpected record has occuredwww.occupationalasthma.comMon, 13 Sep 2010 10:57:33 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4755#comments1. More specific search strategy: (occupational diseases [MH] OR occupational exposure [MH] OR occupational medicine [MH] OR occupational risk [TW] OR occupational hazard [TW] OR (industry [MeSH Terms] mortality [SH]) OR occupational group* [TW] OR work-related OR occupational air pollutants [MH] OR working environment [TW]) AND name(s)-of-the-disease. 2. More sensitive search strategy: (occupational diseases [MH] OR occupational exposure [MH] OR occupational exposure* [TW] OR "occupational health" OR "occupational medicine" OR work-related OR working environment [TW] OR at work [TW] OR work environment [TW] OR occupations [MH] OR work [MH] OR workplace* [TW] OR workload OR occupation* OR worke* OR work place* [TW] OR work site* [TW] OR job* [TW] OR occupational groups [MH] OR employment OR worksite* OR industry) AND name(s)-of-the-disease. Usage notes 1. It is possible to 'copy and paste' each of the two strings into PubMed from a .doc file. Alternatively, the strings can be evoked in PubMed by entering the following shortened URLs in the browser address box: 2. http://tinyurl.com/mattioli-et-al-specific for the 'more specific' string and http://tinyurl.com/mattioli-et-al-sensitive for the 'more sensitive' string. 3. The name-of-the-disease should be entered without any search tag. For diseases that have more than one name, the various 'names-of-the-disease' should be entered in brackets, connected by the OR operator: for example . AND (epicondylitis OR tennis elbow).www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 10 Sep 2010 11:51:57 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_causative_agent.aspx?id=5#commentsALLERGYS TO CLEANING AGENT CHLORACLEARwww.occupationalasthma.comThu, 09 Sep 2010 13:59:23 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1092Do you know whether colophony, when it is a soluble component of paint primer, has been reported as a cause of occ asthma? I have a convincing case and this is the only sensitiser I can recognise. Have scoured the internet without success. www.occupationalasthma.comMon, 16 Aug 2010 11:32:24 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4739#commentsAgent Colistin Job Pharmaceutical warehouseman Specific IgE neg (dot/blot test) Skin prick test not done Non-specific reactivity normal (16mg/ml) Serial Peak Flow not done BAL not done FENO not done Basophil histamine release Not done Specific Challenge positive immediate reaction Follow-up relocated, no symptoms after 6 months www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 21 Jul 2010 19:07:54 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4741#commentsInduced sputum and FeNO measured before, at 7 and 24 hours after specific challenge.A 2.2% increase in sputum eosinophils post challenge had a sensitivity 74-79 % (at 7 and 24 hours) and a specificity of 81% aginst specific challenge in 20 challenge positive and 16 challenge negative subjects (post hoc analysis). FeNO showed no significant change at 7 hours, an increase >10ppb at 24 hours had a sensitivity of 37% for a specificity of 81%. The next stage would be to test the 2.2% increase in eosinophils is subjects whose challenges were equivical in terms of FEV1 decline, or who showed a <20% FEV1 fall post challenge. The mean FEV1 fall in this group was high at 30% (SD 11.45). 14/26 had immediate reactions aline.www.occupationalasthma.comWed, 21 Jul 2010 12:48:09 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1084Can anyone recommend a specialist in the field of continued irritated lungs in the south of England. I worked with waste transformer oils in an unsuitable environment for 10 months suffering from lung problems initially burning and shortness of breath. The company whilst admittiing fume exposure have refused to state what fumes (as thay probabaly dont truely know as it was a waste product). To the best of my knowledge they would have included mineral oil, furfuraldehyde, carbon monoxide, acetalyde, alcohols, solvents (cleaning the bottles), poly chlorinated biphenols, ,various metals,maybe BHT and other unknown oil preservatives at unknown levels. No monitoring or PPE and no complete safety data sheet for this waste product. I also sourced latex gloves which I have since found out are not suitable for use with this type of product. Transformer oil is designed to absorb 2-3 times its weight in gases and the bottles I were handling were deliberatley not sealed to reduce the chances of explosion. The histamine challenge I lasted for about 1 minute in Dec 08 but I had a really bad time metabolising sulbutimol the nebulised stuff made me ill for two days. Had a peak flow score of 2.4 but by that time I got an appointment my company had outsourced the work to a laboratory, and I was being effected by all irritants inside and outside of work and lung function was reduced by things like paint, new carpets, new mdf etc as well as work (in a refinary). At the respiratory clinic they paid no attention or made any reference to my work exposures that started these symptoms. I have avoided all chemicals as far as posssible since jan 09 on doctors advice. I suffer from burning lungs coughing up of phlem and shortness of breath when I come into contact with irritants (smoke, cigarette smoke, sulphur dioxide, bleach some perfumes, tarmac, petrol, solvents, airfreshners etc). Before working there I had no history at all of any asthma and have never smoked. I am looking for any advice on what I should do now a one respiratory consultants and a doctor have said I do not have asthma because I dont have a wheeze or a chronic cough, I just clear my throat and upper airways a lot when aggrevated I wouldn't call it a chronic cough. i have shortage of breath and pain in my lungs. I was also told I would make a recovery if I left work. I have beem chemical free for 18 months and no improvement when exposed. Any advice would be gratefully received. I went back to my GP who recommended a course of antibiotics which I refused. I do not believe I have a chest infection this is the reaction I get everyday irritants on a regular basis but I can no longer afford not to work. When I am shut up in doors or in the open air away from everything I am absolutely fine! However financially I cannot afford to stay at home any more. Any help and advice would be much appreciated. www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 15 Jul 2010 14:42:40 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1082I am a mechanical engineer exposed to various chemical fumes and dust. i have been working as a engineer for 7 years and around two years ago had my first asthma attack. taking over a week in hospital to recover. ever since my asthma has been difficult to manage being off work a lot and taking many courses of steriods and various inhalers. i have been sent to have skin prick tests with the outcome i had allergy to grass dust cat and horse and mould. tests that stated my breathing was 60% of normall. then histamine test with the outcome i was the most sensitive you could be. then my doctor is still sending me to work with the belief i am probally sensitive to something at work and told me to stay away from anything that i feel affects me. where do i go from here. my asthma improves away from work and i had sleepless nights whilst at work. i am worried my health could get worse at work. i would like to claim compensation for my work causing this how can i do this without proving it is occupational? my doctor says that i am just so atopic at the moment i could be caused by anythingwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 25 Jun 2010 00:12:52 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1079Having been an asthma sufferer for most of my childhood and now, in my later years, I notice that many household sprays and air-fresheners; e.g. those made by Airwick, Ambi Pur, Glade etc, can make life very unpleasant. I feel that much of the increase in childhood asthma is caused by the introduction of these agents into the home. Has any one carried out a study on the usage and over usage of these chemical sprays and their effect on asthmatic children and adults in the home environment? I would be interested in your commentswww.occupationalasthma.comTue, 08 Jun 2010 09:53:04 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1077Dear sir, is there any association between skin prick test results and Peak Flow metry in workers with asthma?www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 27 May 2010 20:13:53 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1075I have a patient who seems to have irritant-induced asthma (arguably "RADS")from the highly-irritant materials using in making the sets (he is a carpenter) but that really means plastics, etc, rather than wood. Lots of styrene, various alcohols, acetates, ketones, toluene - all in high concentration. Do you have any good references for this? We are unable to get compensation for irritant asthma (RADS) unless it fulfills the original Brooks criteria Do you have any references related to the film industry?www.occupationalasthma.comThu, 27 May 2010 16:13:50 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4722#commentsMostly low risk for occupational asthma apprentices (painters were building painters). More about COPD than asthma, but interesting. No data on exposures after first 2 yearswww.occupationalasthma.comSun, 09 May 2010 18:01:51 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1068Iwould like some advice. November 1, 2010. We purchased a young blue crowned conure. 1 week later I developed laryngitis, which turned into a cough. I have had this productive cough ever since. I have never smoked and we only have one bird (I had a macaw for 18 yrs, it passed away 4 yrs ago). My chest xray, ctscan and pulmonary function tests are all normal. My parents took the conure for 2 months as a test to see if the bird is the cause (my pulmonary doctor thinks it is, but I tested negative to the skin prick test for budgies and chickens). During the 2 months there was improvement but not long lasting, the cough always came back. I have the bird back now, within 24 hrs of bringing the bird home, I have come down with a fever. The fever is not accompanied with shortness of breath and is only at night, for 2 nights in a row. I have always been very healthy. Could I be having an allergic response to my bird? Thank you!!! LD 04/05/2010 www.occupationalasthma.comTue, 04 May 2010 17:17:27 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1065We are in Izmir and have noit been able to work the old Oasys. Now we are excited but cannot find out how to save a copy of the report with the graph onto our own computer. Is this possible?www.occupationalasthma.comFri, 16 Apr 2010 14:01:28 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/forumviewquestion.aspx?id=1062Can oasys 2 beta files be imported into the internet version so that I can combine files or do I have to re-enter all the data?www.occupationalasthma.comSun, 11 Apr 2010 18:08:32 GMThttp://www.occupationalasthma.com/occupational_asthma_viewreference.aspx?id=4714#commentswoodworkers used as a generic group, no speciation to type of woodwww.occupationalasthma.comFri, 02 Apr 2010 13:05:30 GMT