Surveillance for occupational asthma--Michigan and New Jersey, 1988-1992

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health Surveillance
• Industrial Hygiene

Background:

• Occupational asthma (OA) is a significant health issue requiring preventive measures.
• The Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) program was established to address OA.
• State-based surveillance and intervention programs for OA have been developed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the initial 5-year outcomes of the SENSOR program in Michigan and New Jersey.
• To identify causes and trends of occupational asthma.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of surveillance and intervention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the SENSOR program's surveillance case definition for occupational asthma.
• Collected data on occupational asthma cases from 1988-1992 in Michigan and New Jersey.
• Conducted follow-up industrial hygiene sampling to assess airborne agent concentrations.

Main Results:

• Identified 535 cases of occupational asthma and related conditions, with 328 meeting the OA definition.
• Manufacturing, particularly transportation equipment and chemical production, was the leading industrial sector.
• Isocyanates were the most common asthma-causing agents, though airborne levels were generally below OSHA limits.

Conclusions:

• The SENSOR system successfully identified previously unrecognized causes of OA.
• Comprehensive control of occupational allergens, such as isocyanates, is necessary.
• SENSOR interventions have led to improved worker protection and are being expanded to more states.