Date amended:
External
Statements of Principles

Asthma - Exposure to an occupational antigen Factor

'Occupational antigen' is defined by the RMA to mean one of a list of specific inhaled substances present in the workplace which precipitate the new onset of asthma.  These substances are presented in the table below, together with occupations that may give rise to relevant substance exposure:

Occupational antigen

Occupation

(a)   metal salts of platinum, chrome, or nickel

Platinum refiner, chemist, chrome polisher, chemical worker, cement tanning worker, nickel plater, chemical engineer.

(b)   dusts from oak, western red cedar, African maple, or ramin wood

Wood machinist, woodworker, carpenter, sawmill worker, wood finisher.

(c)   dusts or aerosols from cereal grain, wheat flour, rye flour, the castor bean, green coffee bean, soybean, buckwheat, latex, or  hydrolysed gluten

Grain elevator worker, miller, baker, grain worker, bagger, farmer, chemist, coffee worker, soybean processor, operating room nurse (re latex).

(d)   powdered forms of antibiotics, piperazine hydrochloride, or cimetidine

Chemical process worker, pharmaceutical worker.

(e)   fumes or dusts from toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, phthalic acid anhydride, trimellitic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, himic anhydride, persulfate salts, ethylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, ethylene diamine, triethylene tetramine, or reactive dyes: tartrazine; azoquinone; anthroquinone; methyl blue; or black G-R

Workers with varnish, polyurethane and plastics, automobile spray painter, chemical worker, epoxy resin worker, tool setter, paint manufacturer, hairdresser, fur dyer, rubber, shellac manufacturer, photographer, manufacturer of aircraft filters, textile dyer, dye weigher.

(f)    dusts or vapours from biological enzymes, subtilisin, aspergillus enzymes, trypsin, pancreatin, or laundry detergents

Medical or pharmaceutical laboratory worker, plastic polymer processor, pharmaceutical worker, pharmacist, enzyme processor worker or messenger, detergent industry worker.

(g)   dusts or vapours from animal hair, pelts, urine, serum and secretions, or crustaceans

Handler of laboratory animal (rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits), farmer, veterinarian, meat processor, meat inspector, poultry breeder or processor, egg processor, oyster farmer, oyster shucker, prawn processor.

(h)   insect dusts and secretions

Zoo curator, granary worker, dock worker, mill worker, farmer, laboratory worker, teacher, field worker, silkworm cutter, pea or bean sorter, outside worker, entomologist.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 05 APRIL 2002.

INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS

Type

Title

PDF Format

Word Format

Claimant Report
Development of Asthma
CR9069.pdf
CR9069.docx
Medical Report
Development of Asthma
MR9092.pdf
MR9092.docx
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [18058]

18062  the veteran has established the causal connection between the exposure to an occupational antigen and VEA service for the clinical onset of asthma.

18064   the veteran has established the causal connection between the exposure to an occupational antigen and operational service for the clinical onset of asthma.

or

18065   the veteran has established the causal connection between the exposure to an occupational antigen and eligible service for the clinical onset of asthma.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [18064]

1831     the clinical onset of asthma occurred on operational service.

18071 the veteran has been exposed to an occupational antigen within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of asthma on operational service.

18075 the exposure to an occupational antigen within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of asthma, on operational service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [18065]

4093     the clinical onset of asthma occurred on eligible service.

18073 the veteran has been exposed to an occupational antigen within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of asthma on eligible service.

18074 the veteran has been exposed to an occupational antigen within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of asthma on eligible service, as a causal result of eligible service duties.

18076 the exposure to an occupational antigen within the 24 hours before the clinical onset of asthma, on eligible service, was due to the veteran's serious default, wilful act or serious breach of discipline.