A Report on Barriers to Reducing the Use of Asthma-Related Chemicals

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Massachusetts. Office of Technical Assistance and Technology
• Description:
  The report takes a close look at three specific asthma-related chemicals or chemical categories: isocyanates, formaldehyde, and chlorine. These chemicals were chosen because they are used by TURA-covered companies, and are also used in many settings that are not covered by TURA. At the time of selecting them, the literature referred to them all as chemicals that cause asthma, although some have questioned the strength of association between exposure and asthma and the mechanism of action-irritation and/or sensitization. A recent review has raised questions about adult exposures to formaldehyde and asthma, based on review of literature over a limited time period. However, this report includes formaldehyde because the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently refers to formaldehyde as a sensitizing agent, and notes that it can cause "allergic reactions" and "asthma-like respiratory problems." Other authoritative bodies, such as the Centers for Disease Control, recommend that people with asthma avoid exposures. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has labeled formaldehyde a sensitizer, based on its capacity to cause dermal and respiratory sensitization. The standard scientific references on occupational asthma include formaldehyde in a discussion of chemicals that can cause occupational asthma although the asthma incidence rate has not been determined and the mechanism of induction may not be known. Also, the World Health Organization states that in children, "some case control and cross sectional studies have indicated a possible association between low formaldehyde exposure and asthma or sensitization to certain allergens." This report takes the perspective that in order to reduce the incidence or worsening of asthma, the use reduction approach should be applied to all "asthma-related chemicals," those which could cause or exacerbate asthma, in adults and children. It is best for all to avoid chemicals that are harmful to the respiratory system, and crucial for anyone who already has asthma to avoid anything that can trigger a reaction. Use of these chemicals also raises other concerns: all three are listed as Hazardous Air Pollutants under the Clean Air Act, and all three are reportable under the Toxics Release Inventory. All three have other significant toxic aspects besides being related to asthma. For example, formaldehyde is linked with nasopharyngeal cancer, and the World Health Organization notes that its recommendation of a short- term limit of 0.1 mg/m3 to protect against sensory irritation "will also prevent long-term health effects, including cancer." These three chemicals were selected as examples not as the result of an analysis of data showing that these chemicals are the most toxic. They were selected because they are widely used outside of TURA as well as by companies covered by TURA, so they present a clear contrast between uses concerning which we have data, and where there is motivation to reduce use; and uses concerning which data is lacking, and motivation to reduce use may also be lacking. When these chemicals are used without awareness of their hazards or how to prevent exposures, risks are higher. There is sufficient evidence of concern to warrant examining these chemicals: isocyanates are commonly reported at the top of lists of chemicals causing asthma in occupational settings; and the MA Department of Public Health has identified cleaning products as of concern in such settings as food preparation, healthcare support, personal care, and building cleaning, and formaldehyde as a concern in many settings, including healthcare and personal care. However, it is important to note that there are many other chemicals related to asthma, some that are used in very high amounts (for example, 262,932,518 pounds of styrene use were reported under TURA in 2009). This report uses the three chemicals not in order to brand them as the worst of the class, but because they provide clear illustration that we need to know more about how asthma-related chemicals are used in the Commonwealth, and how those uses may be reduced. Where these chemicals are covered by TURA, use is reported, and those who use the chemicals know about options for use reduction, and reductions have occurred. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Chlorine Formaldehyde Hazardous Substances Hypersensitivity Isocyanates Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Allergic Reactions Chemical Hazards Chemicals Cleaning Compounds Occupational Asthma Respiratory Diseases Respiratory Irritants Sensitizers
• Publisher:
  Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-48
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20061399
• Citation:
  Boston, MA: Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology, 2013 May; :1-48
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chlorine (CAS RN 7782-50-5) ; Formaldehyde (CAS RN 50-00-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Massachusetts State Department of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  A report on barriers to reducing the use of asthma-related chemicals
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bce8e15fd619f88a536e66cfe8a5f6e127964d2884560700dfbe29a2f7ea4db3c551b9bd8879cff0c9ed680b1be2d864a0b626529cd2a8e933e4d4a2789a7ba8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224937/cdc_224937_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 749.20 KB ]