Preventive Measures for At-Risk Industries — Occupational Health & Safety

Lung Diseases and Indoor Air Quality Preventive Measures for At Risk Industries

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.

• By Mia Barnes
• Sep 06, 2024

Safety and well-being are always priorities in the workplace, so most industries remove any obstacles that hinder or hurt individuals. Air quality needs more recognition as occupational lung diseases become more rampant across at-risk industries. Employ the practices to safeguard the health of workers.

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.

Employees may also develop work-related asthma. This condition is responsible for up to 23 percent of asthma cases in the U.S. The exact cause can vary based on industry type, as chemical fumes, vehicle exhaust and other contaminants can trigger such attacks.

Depending on the air quality, there are more specific types of lung diseases. For example, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis is specifically for mining workers who inhale coal dust regularly. Histoplasmosis is a sickness more commonly associated with pest control workers since they are exposed to contaminated animal droppings. 

Lung cancer is among the most dangerous diseases associated with poor indoor air quality. Around 6 percent of outdoor air pollution-related deaths are due to this condition. The toxic atmosphere can also contribute to the development of other illnesses like urinary tract and bladder cancer.

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.