Work-Related Asthma in the Cannabis Industry: Findings from California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington

Details

• Journal Article:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Pacheco, Michelle ; Fitzsimmons, Kathleen M. ; Reeb-Whitaker, Carolyn K. ; Rosenman, Kenneth D. ; Flattery, Jennifer ; Weinberg, Justine L. ; Reilly, Mary J. ; Yiu, Sarah ; Sack, Coralynn ; Todorov, Daniele ; Harrison, Robert J. ; Dodd, Katelynn E. ; Sparer-Fine, Emily H.
• Description:
  Objective: Describe work-related asthma (WRA) cases and associated exposures in the legalized cannabis industry. Methods: Using data from four state-based surveillance systems (California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington), WRA cases within the cannabis industry were identified and classified as new-onset asthma or work-aggravated asthma. Results: From legalization dates (1996 in California, 2012 in Massachusetts, 2008 in Michigan, 1998 in Washington) through 2023, 30 WRA cases were identified. A majority were aged 18 to 34 years (66.7%) and were male (60%). Thirteen (52%) cases were new-onset asthma, and 12 (48%) were work-aggravated asthma, with two fatalities. The most frequently reported exposure was plant materials (40.4%), of which 94.7% were cannabis dust and/or marijuana plant. Most cases (69%) worked in indoor cultivation/processing. Conclusions: Cannabis industry workers are at risk for WRA, emphasizing the need for interventions to address workplace respiratory hazards.
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Cannabis Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Marijuana; Respiratory; Fatal Case Reports; Epidemiology; Prevention; Surveillance; Occupational Work-related Asthma; WRA; Cannabis; Surveillance; Plant Substances; Plants; Marijuana; Respiratory Health; Case Reports; Epidemiology; Occupational Asthma; Fatalities;
• Source:
  J Occup Environ Med 2025 Oct; 67(10):862-868
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Massachusetts ; Michigan ; Washington ; West Virginia ; San Francisco Region [OSHA] ; Boston Region [OSHA] ; Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  7 pdf pages
• Volume:
  67
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071296
• Contact Point Address:
  Emily Sparer-Fine, ScD, 250 Washington St, Boston MA 02128
• Email:
  emily.sparer-fine@mass.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Cannabis (CAS RN 8063-14-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  Public Health Institute
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:460ec79b3236dc54908a1f6f36011a5a138b17fc0f474cebaffd37b656663eb32120b22441f3042dbf7f06dde7cc06632300609fcd3717f6d5cd686b01f4ef38
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258773/cdc_258773_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 269.73 KB ]