Symptoms of Chemical Lung Allergies

Symptoms of chemical lung allergies are caused by exposure to household irritants, toxins, insecticides, perfumes, pollutants and chemically-produced emissions and odors, resulting in lung irritation and an array of associated conditions.

Significance

• Pollution from vehicle exhaust, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone circulates indoor and outdoor air, causing allergic asthma symptoms of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and attacks in sensitized people.

Potential

• Cigarette smoke contains harmful carcinogens, resulting in chemical lung allergies that inflame the nasal passages and airways with mucus, causing constricted breathing, congestion, eye irritation, throat soreness, chronic coughing and asthma attacks, leading to further respiratory complications of emphysema, pneumonia and bronchitis.

Considerations

• Decreased lung function due to persistent chest tightness, wheezing and chronic coughing may signify a chemical lung allergy resulting from ongoing exposure to toxic paint, cleaners, carpets, and adhesives due to remodeling or from carbon monoxide emissions produced by wood stoves during winter.

Warning

• Poor air quality results from chemical emissions and pollutants, and when inhaled by hypersensitive individuals, causes lung allergies that may damage tissues and create cavities in the air sacs, making allergic and asthmatic people susceptible to infection and chronic lung diseases.

Identification

• Multiple chemical sensitivity allergies can be diagnosed by skin tests, lung function measurements, nasal smears, respiratory tract exams, neurological tests and air quality evaluations performed in the workplace and at home.

Prevention/Solution

• Lung allergies can be treated with inhalers, nebulizer treatments, immunizations, anti-fungal medications and antibiotics, with limited exposure to triggers being most effective.