lung and airway disorders
Work Related Asthma
Irritant exposure and reactive airways dysfunction syndrome
Irritant-induced asthma refers to asthma that occurs following exposure to respiratory irritants at work. Irritants can cause cell damage and inflammation. A high level of exposure to an irritant, such as in a workplace accident or chemical spill, can result in Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS). RADS refers to the new onset of asthma symptoms within 24 hours of a high-level exposure to a known irritant. In addition to RADS, irritant-induced asthma also includes development of asthma in workers with chronic exposure to moderate levels of irritants. Asthma can also be triggered by recurrent low-level exposure to irritants, such as cleaning products and disinfectants. 