Michigan State University said it s the first reported death from acute asthma associated with work-related environmental tobacco smoke, the university said Friday in a release.

The report was published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

"The autopsy clearly indicates she died from asthma," Kenneth Rosenman, chief of MSU's Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. "There was no other cause of death. Her death is consistent with what we know about exposures in bars like this. We know asthmatics are more susceptible to irritants and other particulates in the air."

The report said Michigan is one of a number of states considering joining the 23 U.S. states that have banned smoking in restaurants and bars.