Nurses, printers and wood workers are more likely than people in the general pupulations to get work-related asthma, according to findings from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Researchers analyzed health information and workplace exposure to substances known to cause occupational asthma in a study involving nearly 7,000 people, none of whom had astham at the beginning of the 9 year study. Exposure to astham causing substances increased the risk by 60% on average. Printers had the greatest risk with 137% increased risk, nurses and woodworkers both with 122% increased risk.

Researchers theorized that nurses may be at risk because of their exposure to sterilizing agents, disinfectants and latex. The risk of developing asthma triples amoung workers after certain occurances such as fires, chemical spills and mixing of cleaning agents. Researchers are calling for better monitoring of worker’s exposures to chemicals that can cause illness.

*Nursing 2007