The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44215

Margaret S. Filios, ScM, RN¹, Donald P. Schill, MS, CIH², David Valiante, MS, CIH², Jennifer Flattery, MPH³, Robert Harrison, MD, MPH³, Letitia Davis, ScD⁴, Catharine M. Tumpowsky, MPH⁴, Elise Pechter, MPH, CIH⁴, Mary Jo Reilly, MS⁵, and Kenneth D. Rosenman, MD⁵. (1) Surveillance Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Mail Stop H-G 900.2, Morgantown, WV 26505, (304) 285-6115, MFilios@cdc.gov, (2) Occupational Health Surveillance Program, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, P.O. Box 360, John Fitch Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08625, (3) Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, (4) Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 6th floor, Boston, MA 02108, (5) Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, 117 West Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824

The rising prevalence of asthma has garnered increasing recognition and activity at state and federal levels.^1,2,3 Work-related exposures may account for up to 29% of cases among adult asthmatics.⁴ Yet there is a dearth of surveillance data for WRA, a preventable condition. Surveillance and intervention programs for WRA, funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in California (CA), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), and New Jersey (NJ) as part of the Sentinel Event Notification Systems for Occupational Risks (SENSOR) program, represent a primary source of WRA surveillance data.⁵ Presented are provisional summary data from these four programs. A total of 1879 interviewed and confirmed cases of WRA were reported to NIOSH for 1993-1997. The primary source of case ascertainment was from health care professionals (90%). Cases were classified using a standard case definition and classification scheme as either ‘work-aggravated’ (19%) or ‘new onset’ (81%). Indoor air pollutants, chemicals, dusts, cutting oils, cleaning materials, and paint were among the most frequently reported exposures. Health Services accounted for the highest proportion of cases within CA (16%), MA (31%), and NJ (15%), and the second highest within MI (9%); Educational Services ranked second or third among three of four states. Data related to Educational Services will be highlighted. These data are useful for targeting prevention efforts, identifying mutual opportunities for collaboration, and increasing the recognition of the preventable burden of asthma related to work.

Learning Objectives:

1.Identify the primary source(s) of state-based work-related asthma surveillance case data.
• List the most frequently reported exposures associated with cases of work-related asthma.
• List the top 3 industries in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersy where exposures occurred.
• List one industry that provides an opportunity for collaboration with other public health asthma initiatives.

Keywords: Asthma, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.