title: New insights into occupational asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine recent publications on the types of agents involved in occupational asthma, the mechanisms by which they induce asthma, and how best to evaluate and treat workers suspected of this respiratory condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High rates of occupational asthma and inhalation accidents were found in workers in crafts and related occupations in the manufacturing industries, and in plant and machine operatives; cleaners and construction workers may also be at risk. Further data support a role for CD4 T cells in low-molecular-weight agent-induced asthma, such as with isocyanates, and neurogenic mechanisms may also be involved. The use of noninvasive measures of airway inflammation in the diagnosis and management of occupational asthma such as sputum eosinophils monitoring is promising, although this is less obvious for exhaled nitric oxide. Finally, the persistence of troublesome asthma even after withdrawal from relevant exposure has been re-emphasized and surveillance programs have been proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further data have been gathered on the prevalence of occupational asthma in various working populations, its mechanisms of development, the contribution of noninvasive measures of airway inflammation in the diagnosis and management of this condition, and its management and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche en Pneumologie, Institut de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de l'Université Laval, Hôpital Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis-Philippe
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemière
authors.forename: Denyse
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gautrin
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartier
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control