The proportion of self-reported asthma associated with work in three States: California, Massachusetts, and Michigan, 2001.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the proportion of adult asthma at the state level that may be related to work.


METHODS
Work-related asthma questions were added to the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) questionnaire in California, Massachusetts, and Michigan.


RESULTS
Findings indicate 7.4-9.7% of those with current asthma reported that their asthma may be work related. These results estimate that approximately 137,000 adults in California, 39,000 in Massachusetts, and 63,000 in Michigan have asthma that may be work related.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are unique in providing population-based estimates at the state level that illustrate that a substantial portion of adult asthma morbidity is due to exposures in the work environment.
Flattery
Jennifer
J
California Department of Health Services, Richmond, 94804-6403, USA. jflatter@dhs.ca.gov
Davis
Letitia
L
Rosenman
Kenneth D
KD
Harrison
Robert
R
Lyon-Callo
Sarah
S
Filios
Margaret
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*