{"id":17102,"date":"2025-06-09T08:55:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T00:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/dbclinic.com.sg\/?p=17102"},"modified":"2025-08-09T16:20:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T08:20:52","slug":"workplace-allergy-symptoms-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/dbclinic.com.sg\/workplace-allergy-symptoms-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace Allergy: Can your occupation be a hazard and be a cause of your allergy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Businesswoman
Businesswoman sneezing with a tissue at her office desk, surrounded by work materials and a laptop. Demonstrates topics such as illness, work-related stress, and the importance of health in workplace.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Allergies in our workplace can occur insidiously and post a significant cause of concern to our health. It is imperative to pick up and identify occupation allergies early to reverse and alleviate the allergic symptoms. Prolonged exposure to occupational related allergens may lead to detrimental health complications and possible irreversibility of the symptoms despite withdrawal from the offending trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we would like to highlight the subtle yet potential allergens that we may have encountered in our daily workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Triad of Allergy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Allergy is a medical condition that occurs following an exaggerated immune response towards an external harmless substance. An allergen is a substance that is harmless but able to trigger the immune response, resulting in an allergic reaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One can be exposed to the allergen by inhaling it through the nose, upper airway, then into the lungs, or through direct skin contact or even via oral consumption into the gut. Once the body is exposed to the allergen, immune cells in our body can recognise and produce an inflammatory response against these substances. With repeated process of exposure and recognition of the allergen, the body becomes 'sensitised' and mount a quick yet abnormal response whenever it encounters the same allergen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clinically, this manifests as allergy symptoms. If the symptoms occur on the skin, one may experience itchy eczematous rashes or in the form of contact dermatitis. When the symptoms affect the respiratory system, one may present with asthma or allergic rhinitis symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergic Asthma due to Workplace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Workplace asthma can be induced over time by air particles that are inhaled during work, eventually causing persistent cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. The symptoms that are related to workplace can be insidious and slow, and occur after years of working in the same environment. This is due to progressive sensitisation when a person is chronically exposed to the airborne chemicals and allergens in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the common airborne allergens associated with allergic asthma and the association with certain jobs are highlighted below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Nature<\/strong><\/td>Airborne allergens<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Hairdresser<\/td>Hair perming agents such as persulphates<\/td><\/tr>
Baker<\/td>Wheat flour, amylase enzyme<\/td><\/tr>
Builders<\/td>Sawdust, wood dust<\/td><\/tr>
Solder technician<\/td>Solder fumes<\/td><\/tr>
Factory workers<\/td>Colophony, epoxy resin, plastics, glues<\/td><\/tr>
Storehouse keeper<\/td>Dustmites, Mold<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, airborne irritants such as dust, fumes, and chlorine can irk the respiratory system and trigger asthma symptoms as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensitivity to the airborne allergen increases over a time period upon repeated exposure at work workplace. Once sensitisation occurs, the affected person can develop asthmatic symptoms even with a mild\/ small amount of exposure to the allergen. Allergic asthma symptoms tend to improve when one is on leave, away from the affected workplace, or better during the weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergic Rhinitis due to Workplace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you notice you have a tendency to sneeze, have excessive nasal secretion, blocked nose, cough, when you are at work, there is a possibility this can be occupational-related. One tends to develop symptoms of allergic rhinitis secondary to the workplace following repeated and chronic exposure of the triggering allergens in the same environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is commonly seen in dust mite allergies leading to chronic unresolved allergic rhinitis symptoms in dusty working environment. Allergens such as wheat, flour, yeast can trigger allergic rhinitis symptoms in bakers who inevitably inhale in these allergens during the preparation of dough. Irritants such as coal dust, chlorine, and talc can also trigger allergic rhinitis symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is worth noting that often allergic rhinitis precedes the progression of allergic asthma. Being able to pick up, manage allergic rhinitis and identify the triggering allergen early are vital in preventing the progression of allergic asthma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact Dermatitis due to Workplace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common occupational-related allergy condition is related to allergic skin diseases, such as contact dermatitis. It is also one of the main causes a person takes time-off or unable to complete his work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to direct skin contact to the allergen that is found at the workplace environment, the immune system can be sensitised and manifest itself with skin eczematous rashes that is worse when one is at work, and improve when one is away from work and away from the offending allergen. Skin allergic symptoms can be a nuisance, resulting in incessant itch, broken skin, pain, and affects negatively a person\u2019s quality of life and work performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the common occupation and allergens that can cause allergic contact dermatitis are summarized here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Nature<\/strong><\/td>Contact Dermatitis Allergens<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Healthcare workers such as nurses\/dentist<\/td>Latex found in gloves, medical instruments, surgical equipment<\/td><\/tr>
Hairdressers<\/td>Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) found in hair dyes<\/td><\/tr>
Printers<\/td>Acrylic dyes, adhesive tapes<\/td><\/tr>
Florists<\/td>Flowers such as Ivy, ilies<\/td><\/tr>
Mechanics<\/td>Benzene<\/td><\/tr>
Scuba diver<\/td>Latex found in scuba diving\/ elastic suits<\/td><\/tr>
Food handlers<\/td>Latex found in gloves, Nickel allergies, certain food proteins<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jobs that may have higher risk of developing occupational-related allergies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n