How Occupation Affects Respiratory Health—New Publication
Occupational factors contribute to health disparities by affecting financial status, health-care access, and exposure to hazardous substances. Although occupational exposures can cause a number of respiratory conditions, few studies have examined their impact on respiratory health inequities.
A recently published article in the journal Clinics in Chest Medicine highlights the contributions of occupational exposures to disparities in respiratory diseases. Occupational Health Branch (OHB) investigators reviewed ways in which occupational exposures contribute to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), silicosis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and lung cancer.
Asthma
- Work-related asthma (WRA) is a preventable condition that includes new onset asthma caused by workplace exposures as well as pre-existing asthma worsened by workplace exposures. Workers with less education or low income have been found to have elevated risk of workplace exposure to vapors, gas, dust, or fumes that can drive work-related asthma, reflecting often more hazardous conditions in lower-paying jobs.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- COPD is a lung disease most commonly caused by smoking, though occupational exposure to inhaled toxins is an underrecognized contributor. In a recent meta-analysis, occupational exposure to vapors, gas, dust, and fumes accounted for 14% of cases of COPD.
Silicosis
- Silicosis is a progressive, incurable, and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. In recent years, many cases have been identified among workers who cut, polish, and finish countertops made from engineered stone; in the United States, most workers in this industry diagnosed with silicosis have been Latino immigrants.
COVID-19
- Workers who continued to report to work in person throughout the pandemic (essential workers), as well as those who worked in public-facing roles or whose work involved close contact with others, faced higher risks of COVID-19 exposure and infection. In California, Latino and Black workers were found to have higher COVID-19 mortality rates than White workers.
Lung Cancer
- Although the International Agency for Research on Cancer has identified 12 occupational exposures that increase risk of lung cancer, occupational lung cancer is widely underrecognized. Lack of clear guidance on lung cancer screening in occupational populations can lead to delayed lung cancer diagnosis.
Although occupational exposures can worsen respiratory health disparities, the recognition and control of occupational contributors to respiratory diseases can foster health equity. Clinicians, employers, regulatory agencies, policymakers, workers, and unions play essential roles in improving workplace conditions and reducing disparities in respiratory health.
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