More common illness when working in a car

A study published Tuesday by Public Health indicates that working in a car is badociated with a higher frequency of
asthma. Thus, taxi drivers, driving instructors or paramedics are at greater risk of occupational asthma.

However, one question is not settled: do these trades favor asthma, or are these professions more readily practiced if one is asthmatic?

Bakers and hairdressers also concerned

Among artisans and tradesmen, less often studied than employees, the reimbursements of treatments for asthma show that this respiratory disease is more common "in areas where this was already known". For example, bread-bakers or hairdressers, who are exposed to alkaline persulfates, respiratory irritants present in products for discoloration or permanent, are prone to asthma.

But "the study observed also higher risks of asthma in the unknown risk areas, such as driving schools, paramedics, market traders and the fairground and amusement park industry ", explain the authors

Improving Prevention

How Can We Explain That? "Two hypotheses can be advanced. The first is selection effects with asthmatic patients changing jobs "at the expense of occupations where they fear shortness of breath or exposure to" dust, gas and / or fumes ". "The second hypothesis is the existence of an asthma risk specific to these sectors that could be related to occupational or environmental exposure, to irritating substances such as exhaust fumes."

According to the authors of the study, a "better characterization of occupational and environmental exposures" is needed to improve prevention. And for good reason, Public Health estimates at 15% the asthmas which are due to professional risks.

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