NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Fatal asthma from powdering shark cartilage and review of fatal occupational asthma literature.

Ortega HG; Kreiss K; Schill DP; Weissman DN

Am J Ind Med 2002 Jul; 42(1):50-54

https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.10088

20022210

Work-related asthma (WRA) is the most common work-associated respiratory disease in developed countries. We report shark cartilage dust as a new potential cause of occupational asthma (OA) in the context of other fatal OA case reports. A 38-year-old white male worked for 8 years in a facility which primarily granulated and powdered various plastics. Sixteen months prior to his death, the plant began grinding shark cartilage. After 10 months of exposure, he reported chest symptoms at work in association with exposure to shark cartilage dust and a physician diagnosed asthma. Six months later, he complained of shortness of breath at work and died from autopsy-confirmed asthma. The latency from onset of exposure to symptoms and from symptom onset to death was shorter than 10 previously reported OA fatalities. Recognition of occupational causes and triggers of asthma and removal of affected individuals from these exposures is critical and can prevent progression to irreversible or even fatal asthma.

Respiratory-irritants; Respiratory-system-disorders; Bronchial-asthma; Pulmonary-function; Environmental-factors; Sensitization; Dusts; Dust-exposure; Breathing; Breathing-atmospheres; Breathing-zone; Work-environment; Worker-health; Exposure-levels; Occupational-exposure; Occupational-respiratory-disease; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Mortality-data; Author Keywords: occupational asthma; fatal asthma; shark cartilage; work exposure

David N.Weissman, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HELD/ASB/Mailstop L-4218, 1095Willowdale Rd.,Morgantown,WV 26505

AJIMD8

20020701

Journal Article

DWeissman@cdc.gov

Cooperative Agreement

2002

Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-208160

1

0271-3586

HELD

Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

WV; NJ

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services