Cannabis industry needs multifaceted approach to asthma prevention: CDC

Atlanta — Exposure control, safety training and medical monitoring are all needed to prevent occupational asthma among cannabis workers, a new study concludes.

Cannabis industry employees can be exposed to large quantities of ground product during work tasks, such as preroll production and flower grinding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. This has led to reports of asthma, allergic rhinitis and hives.

CDC researchers examined the 2022 death of a Massachusetts worker who experienced an asthma attack. They determined that employers should perform a qualitative assessment to identify areas and processes that have the highest potential dust exposure, along with a quantitative assessment of airborne levels to evaluate controls for dust and other exposures.

Equipment controls, such as exhaust ventilation, can mitigate risk from dust-producing processes, while work procedures can reduce airborne dust. One example is particulate air-filtered vacuuming rather than dry sweeping in work areas.

Personal protective equipment for skin and eyes along with respiratory protection can be used as needed, although it might not be effective for workers with signs and symptoms of occupational-related allergies, the researchers said. 

Medical surveillance of workers should be directed by a health care provider with occupational allergy and asthma expertise, and focus on early detection and signs/symptoms of allergies.

The study was published online in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.