[Atopy, asthma and the judgement of preemployment fitness].
The preemployment medical examination is a practice viewed as important by recently introduced Italian laws (D.L. 277/91 and 626/94), even if its efficacy with regard to atopy is frequently a matter of controversy. It has been assumed that atopy (with a prevalence in the general population around 30%) is a predictive discriminant in the prevention of occupational allergic asthma, but a review of the literature shows that the hypothetical exclusion of 23 per cent of total job applicants (because they are atypical) would seem to prevent only 55 per cent of asthma cases. At the present time, the concept of discrimination in employment founded on presence of atopy is scientifically unsubstantiated and ethically unacceptable.
Innocenti
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U.O. P.I.S.L.L., ULS 3 Zona Valdinievole, Massa e Cozzile, PT.
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D004651:Employment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007558:Italy; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence