Fatal asthma from powdering shark cartilage and review of fatal occupational asthma literature.
BACKGROUND
Work-related asthma (WRA) is the most common work-associated respiratory disease in developed countries.


METHODS
We report shark cartilage dust as a new potential cause of occupational asthma (OA) in the context of other fatal OA case reports.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HELD/ASB/Mailstop L-4218, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA.
Hector G
HG
Ortega
Kathleen
K
Kreiss
Donald P
DP
Schill
David N
DN
Weissman
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D002356:Cartilage; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012754:Sharks
D004391:Dust