Agents reported by chest physicians in occupational asthma, 1992–2001
| Agent | 1992–95 | 1996–2001 | 1992–2001 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total reports | Annual average (%) | Estimated total reports | Annual average (%) | Estimated total reports | Annual average (%) | |
| Organic | ||||||
| Flour/grain | 251 | 63 (9) | 293 | 49 (9) | 544 | 54 (9) |
| Wood dusts | 124 | 31 (4) | 213 | 36 (6) | 337 | 34 (6) |
| Solder/colophony | 124 | 31 (4) | 126 | 21 (4) | 250 | 25 (4) |
| Lab animals | 88 | 22 (3) | 77 | 13 (2) | 165 | 17 (3) |
| Other animals | 44 | 11 (2) | 98 | 16 (3) | 142 | 14 (2) |
| Latex | 21 | 5 (1) | 110 | 18 (3) | 131 | 13 (2) |
| Enzymes | 33 | 8 (1) | 63 | 11 (2) | 96 | 10 (2) |
| Vegetable dusts | 33 | 8 (1) | 51 | 9 (2) | 84 | 8 (1) |
| Fish/crustaceans | 18 | 5 (1) | 51 | 9 (2) | 69 | 7 (1) |
| Other organic substances | 178 | 45 (6) | 148 | 25 (4) | 326 | 33 (5) |
| Subtotal | 914 | 229 (33) | 1230 | 205 (37) | 2144 | 214 (35) |
| Chemical | ||||||
| Isocyanates | 400 | 100 (14) | 443 | 74 (13) | 843 | 84 (14) |
| Glutaraldehyde | 123 | 31 (4) | 90 | 15 (3) | 213 | 21 (3) |
| Irritant gases | 68 | 17 (2) | 75 | 13 (2) | 143 | 14 (2) |
| Pharmaceuticals | 51 | 13 (2) | 37 | 6 (1) | 88 | 9 (1) |
| Formaldehyde | 30 | 8 (1) | 34 | 6 (1) | 64 | 6 (1) |
| Other specified chemicals | 304 | 76 (11) | 325 | 54 (10) | 629 | 63 (10) |
| Subtotal | 976 | 244 (35) | 1004 | 167 (30) | 1980 | 198 (32) |
| Metallic | ||||||
| Metals/metallic compounds | 128 | 32 (5) | 146 | 24 (4) | 274 | 27 (4) |
| Welding fume, incl steel | 87 | 22 (3) | 93 | 16 (3) | 180 | 18 (3) |
| Subtotal | 215 | 54 (8) | 239 | 40 (7) | 454 | 45 (7) |
| Miscellaneous | ||||||
| Epoxy/other resins | 119 | 30 (4) | 86 | 14 (3) | 205 | 21 (3) |
| Cutting oils/coolants | 75 | 19 (3) | 50 | 8 (1) | 125 | 13 (2) |
| Paints | 65 | 16 (2) | 41 | 7 (1) | 106 | 11 (2) |
| Glues | 74 | 19 (3) | 29 | 5 (1) | 103 | 10 (2) |
| Cleaning products | 30 | 8 (1) | 58 | 10 (2) | 88 | 9 (1) |
| Acrylics | 27 | 7 (1) | 39 | 7 (1) | 66 | 7 (1) |
| Inks | 27 | 7 (1) | 32 | 5 (1) | 59 | 6 (1) |
| Other specified agents | 107 | 27 (4) | 189 | 32 (6) | 296 | 30 (5) |
| Subtotal | 4 | 131 (19) | 524 | 87 (16) | 1048 | 105 (17) |
| Unknown/unspecified | 182 | 46 (7) | 356 | 59 (11) | 538 | 54 (9) |
| Total | 2811 | 703 (100) | 3353 | 559 (100) | 6164 | 616 (100) |