Bronchial asthma and COPD due to irritants in the workplace - an evidence-based approach.

ABSTRACT:

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Background

Respiratory irritants represent a major cause of occupational obstructive airway diseases. We provide an overview of the evidence related to irritative agents causing occupational asthma or occupational COPD.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE via PubMed. Reference lists of relevant reviews were also screened. The SIGN grading system was used to rate the quality of each study. The modified RCGP three-star system was used to grade the body of evidence for each irritant agent regarding its causative role in either occupational asthma or occupational COPD.

Results

A total of 474 relevant papers were identified, covering 188 individual agents, professions or work-sites. The focus of most of the studies and the predominant diagnosis was occupational

SUBMITTER: Baur X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3508803 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature