Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the state or irritation in the airways. This provides a hypersensitivity of the airways that can lead to repeated episodes of coughing, chest tightness, breathlessness, or rattle, especially at night or early morning. Between episodes of worsening breathing can be normal.

Asthma attacks triggered by one or more of the following factors: the allergenic substances such as pollen, mold , tobacco smoke, dust, pollution, fog, cold, various gases, strong smells, stress, medications, exercise, viral infections and some medications.
What happens in the respiratory system?

In particular, three factors, each of which causes seizures;

– Cramps in the muscles around the airways.
– Irritation / dermatitis (inflammation) in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract that is caused by infection. The inflammation causes swelling of the mucous membrane, respiratory system are small and it becomes harder to breathe.
– Slim accumulation in the airway

Asthma attacks affect mainly adults. It is normal for up to 1 of 6 -7 (15%) of all onset asthma in adults due to various substances in the work environment. Asthma is the most common occupational respiratory disease in industrialized countries. Which exposure may cause asthma?

Allergic occupational asthma is usually caused by exposure to large the molecular substances, usually proteins. Typical examples are asthma among bakers because of sensitization to flour, and among farmers and people working in very expensive to be allergic to animal fur. It is covered in more than 300 different substances that can provoke allergic occupational asthma. An overview can be found for example www.asmanet.com. Smokers and people with atopic disposition are the most prone to allergic occupational asthma.

Non-allergic asthma is usually exposure to small substances. Several types of plastic components can cause asthma, and most notably different isocyanates that are component of polyuretanplastic. Foam is a type polyuretan plastic, other type used for paints and coatings with special requirements for protection (cars, ships, offshore installations).

A second important set of products is cleaning products. These are used as a spray and have a strong mucosal irritant effect by inhalation. Welders who get asthma respond to mucosal irritation welding fumes through a non-allergic mechanism.

A subgroup of non-allergic asthma are called row (Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome). These are conditions caused by accident characterized exposure to mucosal irritants such as chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, acids and alkalis, such as leaks or fumes caused by fire.