Causative agents of irritant-induced asthma
| Main groups of causative agents | Acute N=30 | Subacute N=39 | Total N=69 (%) |
| Acid aerosols or fumes | 6 Sulfuric acid Hydrofluoric acid Nitric acid Hydrochloric acid Hydrochloric acid and sulfur dioxide | 7 Sulfuric acid* and ammonium fluoride Sulfuric acid* and hydrogen sulfide Sulfuric acid*, sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide Hydrochloric acid Nitric acid | 13 (19) |
| Base aerosols or fumes | 5 Ammonia Sodium hydroxide Black lye | 4 Ammonia Sodium hydroxide Alkaline epoxy polyamine hardener and cleaning agent | 9 (13) |
| Mixtures of acid and base aerosols or fumes | 3 Ammonia, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sulfuric acid, nitric acid | 3 (4) | |
| Inorganic gases | 3 Chlorine dioxide | 3 Chlorine dioxide Chlorine dioxide and hydrogen sulfide Sulfur dioxide | 6 (9) |
| Oxidising agents | 1 Ozone | 1 Hydrogen peroxide | 2 (3) |
| Other chemicals | 5 Formaldehyde† Glutaraldehyde† Hexamethylene diisocyanate† Naphthalene compounds Pyrethrin | 1 Hexamethylene diisocyanate† | 6 (9) |
| Mixtures | 6 Bitumen, solvents and their thermal degradation products Sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite Combustion gas Thermal degradation of polyester paint Sulfuric acid, sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide gas Nitric oxides, diesel exhaust, mixture of oil and water | 12 Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and endotoxins Hydrogen sulfide, sulfur compounds, sodium hydroxide, chlorine dioxide Calcium oxide and hydrogen sulfide Rubber chemicals and their thermal degradation products Solvents and mine dust Formic acid, acetic acid, formaldehyde Thermal degradation of polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane fabrics Trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile | 18 (26) |
| Dusts | 4 Calcium oxide Cement | 4 Ash Calcium oxide and alkaline dusts Cement Sulfuric acid-containing titanium oxide powder | 8 (12) |
| Endotoxins | 0 | 4 | 4 (6) |
*Main causative agent.
†Sensitiser-induced occupational asthma was considered to be unlikely based on the results of specific inhalation test or the anamnesis.