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Long-Term Impact of Western Red Cedar Asthma on Work, Health and quality of Life
April 2006
| Principal Investigator: | Helen Ward (University of British Columbia) | |
| Co-investigators: |
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For more information about this project, please contact Dr. Helen Ward.
Issue
Western red cedar asthma (WRCA) is a type of asthma caused by exposure to the dust of western red cedar, and is the most common form of occupational asthma in BC and the northwest United States.
This project examined how WRCA affects long term health, quality of life, and occupational outcomes, by following up with BC workers diagnosed with WRCA since 1972.
Key findings
- The most favourable respiratory and quality of life outcomes were experienced by individuals still working, particularly those no longer exposed to WRCA.
- The worst respiratory and quality of life outcomes were experienced by individuals no longer working due to WRCA symptoms.
- Few workers could remember being trained on the possible health hazards of WRC exposure, and most became aware of the risks only after they were diagnosed.
Objectives
- To assess the long term impact of WRCA, including respiratory symptoms, employment status and quality of life.
- To examine how personal and work history factors relate to respiratory and quality of life outcomes for workers with WRCA.
- To examine the working conditions of workers with WRCA who remain employed in the cedar industry.
Method
Telephone interviews were conducted with 213 workers who had been diagnosed with WRCA since 1972. Information was gathered about general and respiratory health, work history and quality of life. Standard quality of life survey instruments were used for that component of the interview questionnaire.
Characteristics were compared across four categories of work exposure: still working with WRC; still working but not exposed to WRC; not working due to WRCA symptoms; and, not working for other reasons.
Results
- Of the 213 participants, 47 remained exposed to WRC while 166 were no longer exposed.
- Work status was as follows:
- 22 percent were still working with WRC
- 38 percent were employed but no longer exposed to WRC
- 15 percent were no longer working due to WRCA symptoms
- 25 percent were no longer working due to retirement or other reasons.
- The most favourable respiratory and quality of life outcomes were experienced by those who continued to be employed, particularly those no longer exposed to WRC.
- The worst respiratory and quality of life outcomes were experienced by those no longer working due to WRCA symptoms.
- None of the individuals who switched to non-exposed jobs soon after diagnosis ever became unable to work due to WRCA symptoms.
- Most individuals who at first continued working in exposed jobs after diagnosis eventually either switched to a non-exposed job or became unable to work due to WRCA symptoms.
- Few workers recalled being trained about WRCA risks or preventive measures, and most learned of the risks only after diagnosis.
Conclusions
The study illustrates that WRCA can have long term impacts on quality of life as well as respiratory health. The results also indicate that it is not just removal from exposure but also having gainful employment that results in better quality of life.
These findings point to the need for enhanced and ongoing prevention. Specifically, the researchers recommend engineered control measures to reduce exposure; providing workers who develop WRCA with retraining in non-exposed jobs; and educating cedar industry workers on the potential health risks of WRC and the protective measures recommended.
Future directions
Further research is needed to gain insight into why some workers are able to keep working with continued exposure to WRC while others become unable to work due to their WRCA. Qualitative research and intervention studies are also needed to gain a better understanding of how best to promote good quality of life and respiratory health over the long term for those with WRCA.