Distribution of agents (n (%)) reported as causing occupational asthma, 1989–97
| Agent | 1989–91 | 1992–94 | 1995–97 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic: | |||
| Flour or grain | 102 (7) | 231 (8) | 280 (9) |
| Laboratory animals | 87 (6) | 131 (5) | 117 (4) |
| Solder or colophony | 85 (6) | 102 (4) | 131 (4) |
| Wood dust | 62 (4) | 119 (4) | 186 (6) |
| Crustaceans and fish | 34 (2) | 20 (1) | 82 (3) |
| Proteolytic enzymes | 9 (1) | 33 (1) | 32 (1) |
| Soya | 2 (<1) | 1 (<1) | 0 — |
| Green coffee beans | 1 (<1) | 0 — | 1 (<1) |
| Ispaghula | 0 — | 0 — | 14 (<1) |
| Microbial antigens or fungi | 22 (1) | 25 (1) | 40 (1) |
| Latex | 3 (<1) | 14 (<1) | 86 (3) |
| Tea | 0 — | 3 (<1) | 4 (<1) |
| Other plants | 34 (2) | 39 (1) | 107 (4) |
| Other animals | 29 (2) | 78 (3) | 86 (3) |
| Subtotal | 470 (31) | 796 (28) | 1166 (39) |
| Chemical: | |||
| Isocyanates | 336 (22) | 437 (15) | 410 (14) |
| Glutaraldehyde | 30 (2) | 128 (4) | 133 (4) |
| Azodicarbonamide | 17 (1) | 11 (<1) | 2 (<1) |
| Antibiotics | 17 (1) | 44 (2) | 25 (1) |
| Formaldehyde | 18 (1) | 26 (1) | 30 (1) |
| Pesticides | 12 (1) | 5 (<1) | 6 (<1) |
| Chlorine | 9 (1) | 15 (1) | 19 (1) |
| Ammonia | 8 (1) | 16 (1) | 3 (<1) |
| Sulphur dioxide | 8 (1) | 41 (1) | 2 (<1) |
| Other | 77 (5) | 230 (8) | 221 (7) |
| Subtotal | 532 (35) | 953 (33) | 851 (28) |
| Metallic: | |||
| Platinum salts | 9 (1) | 10 (<1) | 5 (<1) |
| Aluminium potroom emissions | 17 (1) | 9 (<1) | 6 (<1) |
| Stainless steel welding fume | 4 (<1) | 2 (<1) | 20 (1) |
| Other welding fume | 33 (2) | 74 (3) | 44 (1) |
| Cobalt | 9 (1) | 4 (<1) | 5 (<1) |
| Nickel | 6 (<1) | 3 (<1) | 5 (<1) |
| Chrome compounds | 9 (1) | 40 (1) | 7 (<1) |
| Zinc compounds | 0 — | 16 (1) | 2 (<1) |
| Other | 6 (<1) | 45 (2) | 49 (2) |
| Subtotal | 93 (6) | 203 (7) | 143 (5) |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Hardening agents | 44 (3) | 142 (5) | 67 (2) |
| Other glues and resins | 50 (3) | 95 (3) | 91 (3) |
| Paints | 33 (2) | 46 (2) | 39 (1) |
| Cutting oils | 22 (1) | 63 (2) | 71 (2) |
| Cleaning products | 22 (1) | 28 (1) | 45 (1) |
| Hair products | 22 (1) | 8 (<1) | 13 (<1) |
| Inks | 14 (1) | 45 (2) | 33 (1) |
| Reactive dyes | 7 (<1) | 15 (1) | 4 (<1) |
| Other | 98 (6) | 206 (7) | 277 (9) |
| Subtotal | 312 (20) | 648 (23) | 640 (21) |
| Unknown or not stated | 121 (8) | 257 (9) | 202 (7) |
| Total | 1528 | 2857 | 3002 |