title: Adult-onset asthma and wheeze among irritant-exposed bleachery workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether new-onset asthma is associated with irritant exposure is unclear. The aim was to investigate if occupational exposure to irritant gases, especially repeated peak exposure (gassings), increased the risk of obstructive airways disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on airway symptoms and exposure among bleachery (n = 101) and paper department workers (n = 314) were collected by a questionnaire. Incidence rates and hazard ratios (HR) (Cox regression) were calculated. Non-responders were interviewed by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence rate for adult-onset physician-diagnosed asthma among bleachery workers reporting gassings giving rise to respiratory symptoms was 7.6/10(3) person-years and for those without gassings 2.2/10(3) person-years, compared to 1.0/10(3) person-years for paper workers. In a Cox regression model for asthma (n = 12), stratified for sex, HR for gassings were 5.6 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.6-20), for hay fever 3.0 (95% CI 0.8-11), and for ever smoking 0.7 (95% CI 0.2-2.4). The same model for adult-onset wheeze gave HR of 5.2 (95% CI 2.2-12), 1.7 (95% CI 0.6-5.4), and 1.1 (95% CI 0.5-2.7), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated peak exposure to irritant gases, here studied as gassings in the pulp industry, increased the risk for both adult-onset asthma and wheeze.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. Eva.Andersson@ymk.gu.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Anna-Carin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Olin
authors.forename: Stig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Tohr
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Torén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005740:Gases / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D007509:Irritants