Asthmagens

Asthmagens are substances that cause sensitisation of the airways. You can work with an asthmagen for years , in some cases, before you suddenly become sensitised.

Once your respiratory system is sensitised, future exposure to the substance that caused the asthma will trigger further attacks. You are sensitised for life, and may have to change your job to get away from the asthmagen.

These substances can cause occupational asthma:

Azodicarbonamide Chromium salts Green coffee bean dust Butadiene Diepoxide Cobalt salts Guar Gum Glycidol Nickel salts Henna Cimetidine Platinum salts Latex Isocyanates Cow epithelium Cutting oil mist Epoxy resins

Reactive dyes Egg proteins Soybean dust Antibiotics Storage mites Tea dust Anhydrides Carmine Chloramine Shellfish proteins Animal & avian dander Cyanoacrylates Flour and Grain dust Diazonium salts Castor beans Moulds & spores Ethylenediamine

Glutaraldehyde Wood dusts Hydralazine Isphagula powder Ipecacuanha Persulphate salts Piperazine Solder fume Reactive dyes Spiramycin Amylase Bromolein Cellulase Papain Subtilisins Xylanase Food flavours

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