smoke/ fumes inhalation.

[Mrteddycat]

just recently diagnosed with asthma. Wondered if there was any link to fumes etc . As a posty last few months sharing a van, fumes coming out of somewhere ( im not a driver btw) as we are sitting in van. Stings eyes and harsh in throat , driver shudv reported it.

[fraid]

Absolutely! No fumes/ smoke without asthma/ lung damage. Maybe report it yourself? 🤔

[Mrteddycat in reply to fraid]

Just sthing i was thinking bout today , report going in.

[CheeseLover20 in reply to fraid]

Hello fraid

Thinking about fumes, could nasty fumes from new sofas have a similar effect on lungs? In 2022 we bought new sofas which had terrible fumes, probably from the stain treatment. We lived with them for quite a few weeks whilst we arranged alternative sofas. I suffered from a sore throat, a cough and stinging eyes. I was diagnosed with asthma in October last year. Could these fumes have contributed even though it was a year before?

[fraid in reply to CheeseLover20]

I am not an expert so can only refer to my own experiences with allergies, and I'm allergic to lots of things! Chemicals can affect me badly and give me asthma, some people have multiple chemical sensitivities which can be diagnosed but I just go by my body's advice. There are also allergies that don't give you asthma though bad hay fever def does for me. I take cetirizine which helps. Anything that irritates your lungs can't help but causes of asthma can be myriad, knowing your triggers and what to avoid only comes with time I'm afraid. Good luck. 🤞

[CheeseLover20 in reply to fraid]

Thanks fraid. Yes I am only at the beginning of experiencing symptoms of asthma. My strongest trigger at the moment that worsens my asthma is cold air. Still seeing the asthma nurse regularly and of course there is a waiting list for a spirometry test! Listen to your body is my maxim too.

[Homely2 Administrator]

Need to be careful with fumes and asthma, definitely something to raise with employer.

Worth keeping an asthma diary so you can see if you can work out what triggers your asthma.

Also worth having a general chat re your asthma with the asthma UK helpline on 0300 2225800

[Poobah]

Talk to your workplace health and safety union rep, or union rep, about looking at reasonable adjustments...that's if you're having to continue using the potentially faulty van. The rep can walk you through the process of requesting an occupational health review from your employer. The review is carried out by a qualified practitioner and they can recommend reasonable adjustments to the employer that are designed to reduce the workplace risk to your asthma.

I agree that having a chat with the Asthma UK nurses about your asthma is a good idea.

[Mrteddycat in reply to Poobah]

Cheers. Will do tomoz. They need to get it looked at or a claims going in Lol

[Scrofulous]

Yes! Many years before my asthma diagnosis , I used to walk my son to school. Part of the journey involved walking up a hill with heavy traffic thundering past. I used to cough my guts up every day. Now, especially on foggy, cold days, traffic fumes will trigger my asthma.

[runcyclexcski]

Smoke is a major trigger for asthma, and I always have a respirator with me in case I encounter smoke (cigarette smoke, exhaust, BBQs, forest fires, pumps burning oil etc). There is a debate in literature on whether asthma can develop from acute smoke inhalation, but it is definitely a trigger once asthma has developed.

Often, smoke can be localized (e.g. from a source, like a pump or a vehicle) and can be hard to see by eye as a distinct "cloud", unless it's really bad -- since the layer is thin (say, several meters). This is unlike city smog, which is a kilometer thick and can be seen as a haze. However, local sources of smoke can be identified with a laser particle counter: I once identified a smoky pump in my laboratory which has been running non-stop for years and emitting particles exceeding WHO safe levels if standing next to it. BTW, regular cooking can be quite bad, too, even if one cannot see the "smoke"

One can rent a laser particle counter, or they can now be bought for under GBP500. Dylos is a good one (cheaper than professional ones, but better than no-brand aliexpress ones). If a certification is needed, there are environmental testing labs that can do particle testing. This is not cheap -- buying a counter might be cheaper than a one-off test by a certified lab.

Talking to asthma nurses is good, although in my experience doctors and nurses were not keen on getting involved in pushing reasonable adjustments or getting involved in law suits. I also once complained to the Government health and safety. There is a web form for this. That has had a much more profound effect (the employer got things sorted within a week, while before they did not do anything for many years).

[Whiteclouds]

hi any fumes or smoke from either vehicles bonfires or woodburners are irritants to one’s lungs they are pollutants.

[ChrissieMons]

I'm sure it is a legal requirement for vans (as they are workplaces under the act) to have no smoking and no fumes as it would be in any other workplace. The employer/owner is responsible.