The Health and Safety Executive is an independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness. Their website has a section about asthma at work which gives lists of occupations and irritants at work. It also gives information for you and your workplace about occupational asthma and work related asthma. There is also an asthma quiz to find out what you know about asthma at work.
Allergens and irritants are classified in high or low molecular weight, depending on their size.
- High molecular weight means big molecules and include animal dander and plant pollens.
- Low molecular weight means small molecules and include mostly chemicals used in lots of manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries and are the leading causes of occupational asthma.
