Respiratory symptoms among crab processing workers in Alaska: epidemiological and environmental assessment.
BACKGROUND
Crab processing workers may develop respiratory symptoms and specific IgE responses, but the risk factors have not been fully described.


METHODS
In 1998, 107 workers at a crab processing facility completed a survey both at the beginning and end of the processing season. The surveys included standardized symptom questionnaires, spirometry, and serological testing, as well as measurement of workplace airborne crab allergens and microscopic analysis of aerosolized materials.


RESULTS
Over the crab processing season, asthma-like symptoms developed in 26% of study participants and bronchitic symptoms in 19%. Only 9% of those with new asthma-like symptoms were IgE-sensitized to crab at the end of the season. Among the crab processing jobs, butchering and degilling workers had the highest incidence of respiratory symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Both personal and process-related factors appear to affect the development of respiratory symptoms in crab processing workers. In this study, crab specific IgE was not detected in most of the workers with new symptoms. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ortega
H G
HG
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA.
Daroowalla
F
F
Petsonk
E L
EL
Lewis
D
D
Berardinelli
S
S
Jones
W
W
Kreiss
K
K
Weissman
D N
DN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003386:Brachyura; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E