Work-Related Asthma from Exposure to Cardboard and Paper Products

Details

• Journal Article:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Personal Author:
  Glanville, Mason E. ; Reilly, Mary J. ; Rosenman, Kenneth D.
• Description:
  Background: We assess the contribution of cardboard dust exposure to the development of work-related asthma (WRA). Prior studies on paper-dust-related breathing problems have focused on exposures in the paper milling and pulp industries. There have been no reports of asthma linked to workplace exposure to cardboard dust. Methods: From 1988 to 2022, all cases of asthma associated with paper and cardboard dust exposure reported to the Michigan statewide surveillance system were identified. We summarize the characteristics of these workers. Results: Eight cases of paper-dust-related asthma were identified. Seven of the cases were attributed to cardboard dust, and one to paper dust exposure. Half were exposed to cardboard dust while packaging and shipping products in cardboard containers. Five of the cases were new-onset asthma; the other three were work-aggravated asthma. No exposures were reported from paper milling or pulp industries. Conclusions: Cardboard dust was identified as a major contributor to the incidence of asthma associated with paper products. No cases were identified from the paper milling or pulping industry, despite most research studies reporting respiratory disease in that industry. Cardboard dust within manufacturing industries disproportionately contributed to cases of WRA in the state of Michigan, which is not reflected in the medical literature.
• Subjects:
  Asthma, Occupational Dust Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Paper Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Cardboard; Dust; E-commerce; Manufacturing; Paper; Pulp; Shipping; Work-related Asthma Work-related Asthma; WRA; Dust Exposure; Surveillance; Respiratory Diseases; Respiratory Irritants; Paper Manufacturing Industry; Occupational Exposure;
• Source:
  Am J Ind Med 2026 Apr; :[Epub ahead of print]
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; Chicago Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  7 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071417
• Contact Point Address:
  Mason E. Glanville, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
• Email:
  glanvil7@msu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c0c484357f4f642cc7798ab423697a87da793c0b40d643ec2caf306c941aece6b2fba6a9907dbf1ee8001766d28dfae323e0b74b18be696afef8fd18deaaff03
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/259016/cdc_259016_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 382.08 KB ]