Cleaning jobs linked to adult asthma

Conclusion The results of this large study offer evidence of an association between occupational exposures and onset of asthma as a child. Importantly, it quantifies the proportion of asthma that is likely to be due to exposure to occupational agents. There are several imitations to this study: Despite the authors’ efforts to adjust their results for confounders, it is always possible that other factors such as a family history of asthma influenced the results. Asthma confirmed with lung function testing was less prevalent than self-reported asthma or wheezy bronchitis. This suggests that some of the self-reported asthma, may have in fact not been confirmed as asthma on clinical diagnoses had they undergone lung function testing when they were reported – therefore allowing asthmas to be overestimated. The researchers were unable to rule out the possibility that participants who reported asthma or were diagnosed with lung function testing, had other respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although the researchers attempted to estimate individual level exposures, these are still estimations made from the type of jobs they do and may not reflect actual exposure. It is likely that different people working in the same type of job had different exposures. It is also unknown if steps were taken by individuals to lessen exposure to agents (for example, if protective equipment such as face masks were worn while working)...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise Heart/lungs Source Type: news