Improving indoor air quality is essential in preventing occupational lung diseases, especially in at-risk industries, through proper ventilation, protective equipment and strategic preventive measures.

How Air Quality Affects the Lungs

Poor air quality can negatively affect the lungs. Short-term effects can result in frequent coughing, difficulty breathing and wheezing. A toxic atmosphere can also elicit immediate symptoms such as chest pain and phlegm production.

Top Industries at Risk of Lung Disease

Due to air pollution in natural spaces, outside occupations are at risk of lung diseases. However, volatile organic compounds are more common indoors, with levels up to a thousand times higher than outdoors. This covers a variety of industrial spaces, including warehousing, administrative offices, hospitals and schools.

A study on adult asthma decided to investigate the occupations associated with three different subtypes. It first looked into atopic asthma, which is a condition triggered by allergens. Chemical industry workers have an increased risk of this subtype, along with food processors like bakers and waiters.