Your job can have a big impact on your lung health.
Many people think of COPD as a smoker’s disease, but a lot of factors can contribute to chronic lung conditions. Aside from smoking, one of the biggest risk factors can come from your job.
At work, some people are exposed to pollutants in the air. Breathing in vapors, gases, dusts, or fumes can damage the lungs over time.
Jobs that may increase the risk of COPD include:
- Mining
- Farming
- Construction
- Welding
- Mechanics
- Manufacturing (e.g., in textile or paper mills)
- Cleaning
- Health care
- Art
- Gardening1
However, this is not a complete list. Other jobs may also play a role in developing lung disease.
Once you have COPD, your work environment can affect your lung health in other ways, too. For example, some jobs require people to work in the cold. Regular exposure to cold air can lead to more flare-ups, also called exacerbations.2
Many jobs also involve close contact with other people, which can expose you to more germs. One study found that health care workers, police officers, social workers, teachers, and other workers in similar professions are exposed to illness at least once per month.3 This can increase the risk of developing frequent respiratory infections.
So, what can you do if your job is taking a toll on your lung health? To start, follow these tips:
- Wear protective gear, such as a respirator or mask, if you work around airborne pollutants.
- Set up an air purifier in your workspace.
- Wash your hands frequently to reduce the spread of germs.
- Ask for workplace accommodations if you need them.
- The kind of accommodations you can ask for depend on your particular health condition and your job. As one example, you might ask your employer for temperature or humidity control in your workspace, or you might request a smoke- and fragrance-free environment.
Has your job ever impacted your lung health? Share your experiences in the comments, along with any strategies you use to protect your lungs at work.
Resources
- Murgia N, Gambelunghe A. Occupational COPD-The most under-recognized occupational lung disease? Respirology. 2022;27(6):399-410. doi:10.1111/resp.14272
- Donaldson GC, Wedzicha JA. The causes and consequences of seasonal variation in COPD exacerbations. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2014;9:1101-1110. Published 2014 Oct 6. doi:10.2147/COPD.S54475
- Baker MG, Peckham TK, Seixas NS. Estimating the burden of United States workers exposed to infection or disease: A key factor in containing risk of COVID-19 infection. PLoS One. 2020;15(4):e0232452. Published 2020 Apr 28. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232452