Work-related asthma in the educational services industry-California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey, 1993-2000

Details

• Personal Author:
  Davis LK ; Filios, Margaret S. ; Flattery J ; Mazurek JM ; McGreevy K ; Pechter E ; Reilly MJ ; Rosenman, Kenneth D. ; Schill, Donald P. ; Willis R
• Description:
  We examined 2,942 work-related asthma (WRA) cases identified by California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey during 1993-2000 to characterize potential exposures and occupations within the educational services industry (Standard Industrial Classification = 82). A total of 265 (9%) WRA cases in the educational services industry were identified. Of those with sufficient information, using a standard case definition and classification scheme, 182 (69%) cases were classified as new-onset and 82 (31%) as work-aggravated. Twenty (8%) were classified as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) and 162 (61%) as occupational asthma. For 145 (55%) cases the exposure has not been documented as a known allergen. The largest occupational group was teachers and teachers' aides (54%), followed by administrative staff (16%), and janitors, cleaners, and housekeepers (12%). Reports from elementary and secondary schools accounted for nearly 75% of all cases. The most frequently reported agents were indoor air pollutants (28%), cleaning products (19%), mold (18%), and mineral and inorganic dusts (18%). The number of WRA cases among teachers and reported from elementary and secondary schools indicate that asthma in educational settings is an occupational health problem. Workers in this industry are primarily public sector employees, and in half of the states Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provisions do not apply. Initiatives addressing asthma in schools should include employees. The identification, control, and/or elimination of exposures are important for the protection of staff and students alike. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Education Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Hazardous Substances Men Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Women

  More +
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Surveillance Cleaning-compounds Environmental-hazards Health-hazards Household-workers Housekeeping-personnel Humans Indoor Environment Risk-factors Sociological-factors Toxic-effects Training

  More +
• Publisher:
  American Public Health Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Massachusetts ; Michigan ; New Jersey ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20043674
• Citation:
  APHA 133rd Annual Meeting and Exposition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 10-14, 2005. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2005 Dec; :118484
• Email:
  acq8@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• Performing Organization:
  New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20040930
• Source Full Name:
  APHA 133rd Annual Meeting and Exposition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 10-14, 2005
• End Date:
  20060929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e205022c308c5cd795239bd9f8765217bd0d732b61bf76899692811846688d4ea423f9ae9e248378c9463c18e4fb6da5f77c80b43a09025ba3f9b1e41504b5b5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/195510/cdc_195510_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 26.57 KB ]