A dispute has emerged between Norway’s salmon industry and the national broadcaster NRK over claims that salmon processing workers are developing asthma due to their work environment.
NRK recently highlighted findings from a study conducted at St. Olav’s Hospital in Trondheim, where doctors have reported an increasing number of cases of “salmon asthma,” particularly among immigrant workers.
Kamila Strus, a former employee at Lerøy Midt’s salmon plant, is one of the patients profiled by NRK. Strus experienced severe chest pain and difficulty breathing while working at the plant, leading her to believe she was having a heart attack. Diagnosed with work-related asthma, she has since left the industry, joining others who have had to quit due to similar respiratory issues.
The hospital study, which tracked 36 workers between 2019 and 2024, found that 21 of them were suffering from work-related asthma, with no other apparent cause.
Doctors have expressed concern over the “frightening” increase in patients, attributing the issue to aerosols formed by water used in fish processing, which contain particles from fish, mucus, and bacteria.
However, Seafood Norway, the industry’s trade organisation, disputes NRK’s portrayal of the situation.
In a press release issued last week, the association pointed out that around 15% of all asthma in adults is caused by workplace exposure across various industries—not just salmon processing.
While acknowledging the challenges, CEO Geir Ove Ystmark stressed that the aquaculture industry is actively involved in projects aimed at reducing the risk of asthma for its workers. He maintained that salmon processing plants are no more dangerous than other high-risk industries.
“For those who are affected by work-related asthma, it is of course sad to hear. The aquaculture industry has participated in projects related to this, to look at what can be done to prevent people from getting asthma,” said Ystmark.
