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Allergies - A Guide and Resources to Allergies
Information About Asthma and Allergies and How to Prevent Them
Allergens & Irritants
Asthma is one of our nation's most common chronic health conditions.
Many substances can aggravate allergies or increase the severity of
asthma symptoms in individuals who are sensitive to these allergens or
irritants.
This Web site is designed to help you reduce your symptoms
by providing information on asthma, allergies and some of the most
common seasonal and non-seasonal allergens and asthma irritants such as:
Please remember that information contained on this Web site is
provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not
be used to guide the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition
without the advice and supervision of a licensed, qualified health care
provider.
Free NIOSH Publications About Allergies and Asthma in the Workplace
Millions of people suffer from allergies caused by everyday exposures to
agents such as dust mites, cat dander, and pollens. Agents encountered by workers can also cause allergic problems such as asthma, nasal and sinus
allergies, hives, and even severe anaphylactic reactions. Examples of these
work-related agents include animal proteins, enzymes, flour, natural rubber Latex,
even pesticides and certain reactive chemicals,
like Isocyanates. Asthma is one of the more serious
problems that can be caused by work-related allergy. It can cause recurrent
attacks of symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath,
and coughing. In severe cases, these symptoms can be disabling. Fortunately,
when potential hazards are recognized, work-related allergies and asthma can
often be prevented or their effects minimized.
- Preventing
Asthma and Death from MDI Exposure During Spray-on Truck Bed Liner and
Related Applications
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-109 (September 2006)
This Alert summarizes four case reports: one death and several incidents
of asthma or other respiratory disease following exposure to MDI during
spray-on truck bed lining operations.
- Injury and
Asthma Among Youth Less Than 20 Years of Age on Minority Farm Operations
in the United States, 2000 Volume II: Hispanic National Data
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2006-109 (October 2005)
This document provides previously unavailable youth demographic, injury
and asthma estimates at the national level for youth on
Hispanic-operated farms in the U.S. A Hispanic is defined as any person
of Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino origin.
- Asthma Among Household Youth on Hispanic Farm Operations
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-158 (June 2004)
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Household farm
youth comprise all youth 0-19 years of age who live on the farm and
include working and non-working youth. 16-19 year olds had the highest
prevalence rate for having an asthma attack while doing farm work (61
asthmatics per 1,000 youth living on Hispanic farm operations).
- Asthma Among Household Youth on Minority Farm Operations
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-118 (December 2003)
In 2000, approximately 28,600 youth lived on minority farm operations.
10-15 year olds had the highest prevalence rate of asthma. Youth less
than 10 years of age had the highest prevalence rate for having an
asthma attack while doing farm work.
- Injury and
Asthma Among Youth Less Than 20 Years of Age on Minority Farm Operations
in the United States, 2000; Volume I: Racial Minority National Data
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-147 (July 2005)
This document provides previously unavailable youth demographic, injury
and asthma estimates at the national level for youth on racial minority
operated farms in the United States. These data represent the initial
step in developing research and prevention programs to reduce the burden
of injury and asthma on racial minority farms in the United States.
-
National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA)
Asthma & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Preventing
Allergic Reactions to Natural Rubber Latex in the Workplace
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-135 (June 1997)
En
Español
NIOSH Alert: Workers exposed to latex gloves and other products
containing natural rubber latex may develop allergic reactions such as
skin rashes; hives; nasal, eye, or sinus symptoms; asthma; and (rarely)
shock.
- Preventing Asthma and Death from Diisocyanate Exposure
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96-111 (1996)
En Español
NIOSH Alert: Workers exposed to diisocyanates may develop serious or
fatal respiratory disease.
- Preventing Asthma in Animal Handlers
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-116 (January 1998)
En Español
Exposure to animals or animal products in the workplace can cause asthma
and allergies.
-
Workplace Exacerbation of Asthma a Research Priority: NIOSH
Leads Research on Workplace Exacerbation of Asthma
NIOSH is expanding partnerships and research to address emerging
concerns about workplace exacerbation of asthma. This includes six
articles in peer-reviewed journals, a textbook chapter, and ongoing
discussions with partners about a possible international collaborative
study and the development of preventive strategies.
For information on other pulmonary research performed at NIEHS, visit
the
Division of Intramural Reseach Laboratory of Respiratory Biology and
the Division of Extramural Research and Training Translational Research
sites.
Other Asthma and Allergy Resources
Allergy and Asthma Network, Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA)
AANMA, a national nonprofit network of families, offers information about
living with allergies and asthma ...more
Alliance of Community Health Plans
Allies Against Asthma
- Allies Against Asthma Resource Bank
This is a centralized system for sharing information about tools and
materials that may be useful to coalitions and community programs
addressing asthma ...more
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Taking on Asthma
This site provides information about an initiative to reduce the
negative health consequences associated with asthma ...more
American Association of Health Plans
- Taking on Asthma
This site provides information about an initiative to reduce the
negative health consequences associated with asthma ...more
American Lung Association's Asthma Site
ALA provides information about asthma and older people
, teens and asthma,
asthma medicines and
attacks,
peak flow meters, and
home control of allergies and asthma.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
AAFA provides information about asthma and allergy education, advocacy, and
research ...more
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
A new publication from ASTHO's Environmental Health program is a case study
on using educational data for asthma surveillance. The case study titled,
"Tracking Childhood Asthma with School Data in Three States," features
asthma surveillance programs that have incorporated school-based data into
their work. States included in the case study are Connecticut, Maine, and
Massachusetts. The case study is available online at
http://www.astho.org/pubs/
TrackingChildhoodAsthmawithSchoolDataFeb.2006-final.pdf
[PDF, 96 Kb] [external
link]
Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS)
CHCS directs national programs on behalf of two major health care
philanthropies: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Annie E. Casey
Foundation.
-
Improving Asthma Care for Children Program [external link]
Improving Asthma Care for Children projects underway at five health
plans are seeking to improve the health and health-related quality of
life for children with asthma, develop and sustain partnerships with key
community stakeholders, and institutionalize innovative clinical models
in asthma care ...more
Institute of Medicine
National Association of State Boards of Education
-
State-Level School Health Policies [external
link]
This site includes information on state legal codes, rules, standards,
administrative orders, mandates, and resolutions, and links to
additional resources ...more
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
NCSL is a bipartisan, national forum for state lawmakers to communicate with
one another and to share ideas on various topics, including asthma.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIAID provides support for scientists conducting research aimed at
developing better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent asthma ...more
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
NLM, the largest online medical library, provides health information,
library services, research programs, and general information related to
topics such as asthma ...more
PBS Kid's Asthma Tips
This site helps children learn what asthma is, what can trigger asthma
attacks, and how to stay active and healthy if they have asthma ...more
Quest for the Code: An Adventure Game About Managing Asthma for Children
This site provides information on a free CD-ROM created to help children
ages 7 to 15 learn how to manage their asthma ...more
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- AirNow Web site
This site offers air quality information by state and select cities, air
quality forecasts and corresponding health effects, ozone maps, air
pollution publications, and steps you can take to reduce air pollution
...more
- Asthma and Indoor Environments
This document provides information on how to reduce common asthma
triggers in the home and other indoor environments ...more
- Clear Your Home of Asthma Triggers [PDF, 245
Kb]
This document provides information on how to eliminate asthma triggers
in the home and how to reduce symptoms in children.
- Mold, Moisture and Your Home
This guide tells how to clean up residential mold problems and prevent
mold growth ...more
