Fatal Occupational Asthma in Cannabis Production – Massachusetts, 2022

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Braegger, Trapper J. ; Farah, Wigdan ; Fitzsimmons, Kathleen M. ; Hart, Anne ; Hua, Jeremy T. ; Laing, James R. ; Reid, Michelle ; Weaver, Virginia M. ; Weissman, David N.
• Description:
  What is already known about this topic? Occupational allergic diseases, including asthma, are an emerging concern in the rapidly expanding U.S. cannabis industry. What is added by this report? In 2022, the first death attributed to occupational asthma in a U.S. cannabis production worker occurred in Massachusetts. This case illustrates missed opportunities for prevention, including control of workplace exposures, medical surveillance, and treatment according to current asthma guidelines. What are the implications for public health practice? Prevention is best achieved through a multifaceted approach. It is essential to evaluate workers with new-onset or worsening asthma for relation to work exposures and to recognize work in cannabis production as potentially causative. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Asthma Asthma, Occupational Cannabis Dust Hypersensitivity Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Airborne Dusts Allergic Disorders Allergies Occupational Asthma Occupational Exposure Respiratory Irritants
• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  5 pdf pages
• Volume:
  72
• Issue:
  46
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20068790
• Citation:
  MMWR 2023 Nov; 72(46):1257-1261
• Email:
  weaver.virginia.m@dol.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Cannabis (CAS RN 8063-14-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2024
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:3a9f10cf92ad9c47521fa8c87779a1665f0397edcca17d36a34046da3169363160a43accd493d7182c85e546845020c5e9847917aa6f2a2d310b232676156082
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183098/cdc_183098_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 202.04 KB ]