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Burden, Need and Impact

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NIOSH strives to maximize its impact in occupational safety and health. The Immune, Infectious, and Dermal Disease Program identifies priorities to guide investments, and base those priorities on the evidence of burden, need and impact. Below are the priority areas for the Immune, Infectious, and Dermal Disease Program.

Burden

Millions of people suffer from allergic conditions characterized by exaggerated immune responses. Work related asthma comprises 15-23% of new onset asthma cases in adults.1,2 It can cause recurrent attacks of symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. An estimated 11 million American workers are potentially exposed to materials that can produce occupational asthma. There are over 200 documented agents which have been associated with the development of occupational asthma including: dusts, plant and animal proteins, latex, low molecular weight reactive chemicals, pharmaceuticals and non-sensitizing respiratory tract irritants.3 Workers in most occupational sectors have potential for exposure to these agents.

Need

Research is needed to develop, implement and evaluate thoughtful interventions that increase adherence to safe handling of chemical and biologics and reduce worker exposure. In the healthcare setting, employer and healthcare worker adherence to safe handling guidelines is an ongoing challenge for many other hazardous drugs and chemicals. Service sector workers are in need of targeted prevention information to limit their exposures to chemicals used in cleaning agents or personal care products. Most hazards are known but interventions have not been applied to these populations.

Impact

To prevent illness, workers need to be aware not only of the hazards associated with the chemicals in their environment but also the best ways to protect them from exposure and disease. Understanding the mechanisms of occupational diseases will allow for proper treatment and/or prevention. The identification of factors that can influence occupational exposure to chemicals will help to determine the most appropriate ways to prevent or minimize exposure. Ultimately hazard identification will lead to risk assessment which will ensure safe working environments. Guidance documents and other outreach through stakeholders could reduce risk factors for immunological diseases.

1 Dotson GS, Maier A, Siegel PD, et al. Setting Occupational Exposure Limits for Chemical Allergens Understanding

the Challenges Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene 2015;12 Suppl 1:S82-98.

2 Pralong JA, Cartier A, Vandenplas O, Labrecque M. Occupational asthma: new low-molecular-weight causal agents, 2000-2010 Journal of allergy 2012;2012:597306.

3 Mapp CE. Agents, Old and New, Causing Occupational Asthma Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2001;58:354-354.

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