OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA

Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Acting Minister for Labour whether there is a move to include occupational asthma as a Notifiable Disease in view of the exposure of workers to chemicals such as formaldehyde, isocynates and other chemicals which can cause occupational asthma.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, asthma is an ailment which is caused by dust, polluted air, pollen and a number of other allergens. It may also be caused by exposure to certain chemicals, such as formaldehyde, or isocynate as mentioned by the Member. It is, therefore, difficult to distinguish whether it is caused by environmental factors or industrial chemicals.

Nevertheless, I would like to assure the Member that my Ministry will be carrying out a study to assess the problem and consider if occupational asthma should be made a notifiable disease as suggested by the Member.