Chemicals, documented to cause or aggravate occupational asthma, are found in environments where children are present at concentrations exceeding protective health benchmarks. This paper begins to address the research needs cited in the National Academy of Sciences’ report “Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures” that there was insufficient evidence to evaluate the impacts of chemicals such as volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) on asthma.
Matching the robust database of occupational asthmagens, listing numerous chemicals, to published databases on indoor and outdoor monitoring and modeled air pollutants provided information that children in various locations are potentially exposed to these asthmagens. At least 20% of the Clean Air Act’s Urban Air Toxic Pollutants are on the list of occupational asthmagens and are commonly present in the outdoor air. Within the indoor environments, these chemical asthmagens are present in a variety of locations: residences, schools, offices, and hospitals.
Comparing the monitored or modeled amount of the chemical to an established health benchmark provides information on whether the exposure level may be problematic. EPA’s Reference Concentrations (RfC) are used as the health benchmarks since at least one RfC had used occupational asthma as it critical study. Although the mere presence of one of these chemicals or even exposure to the substance doesn’t indicate that it may be an asthma trigger in children, several of the reference benchmarks were exceeded suggesting that occupational asthmagens should be evaluated as potential environmental triggers.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Asthma, Air Pollutants
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