Asthma in the Workplace

Susan M. Tarlo, Professor of Medicine, University Health Network and St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, CanadaOlivier Vandenplas, Professor of Medicine, Head Department of Chest Medicine, Centre hospitalier Universitaire UCL Namur, Université Catholique de Louvain, Yvoir, BelgiumDavid I. Bernstein, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Division of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USAJean-Luc Malo, Professor of Medicine (retired), Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

• Table of ContentsPart I : Introduction1. Definition and classification of asthma in the workplace2. Historical aspects of occupational asthma3. Disease occurrence and risk factors4. Mechanisms, genetics, and pathophysiologyPart II : Assessment5. Assessment of the worker6. Assessment of the workplace7. Immunological and inflammatory assessments8. Functional assessmentPart III : Management9. Management of the worker10. Prevention11A. Impairment and disability evaluations: I. Psychosocial, economic, and medicolegal aspects11B. Impairment and disability evaluation: II. Various legislationsPart IV : Specific agents causing immunological occupational asthma12. Occupational asthma in the baking industry13. Asthma and allergy to animals, fish and shellfish14. Polyisocyanates and their prepolymers15. Western red cedar and other wood dusts16. Metals17. Cleaning agents18. Various high- and low-molecular weight agentsPart V : Specific disease entities and variants 19. Irritant-induced asthma and reactive airways dysfunction syndrome20. Asthma exacerbated at work21. Eosinophilic bronchitis22. Occupational rhinitis23. Airway diseases due to organic dust exposure24. Occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis and organic dust toxic syndrome25. Chronic obstructive airway disease due to occupational exposure26. Building-related illnesses and mold-related conditions27. Occupational urticaria and allergic contact dermatitis