Indices of asthma among atopic and non-atopic woodworkers.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between wood dust exposure and different indices of asthma among woodworkers and non-exposed subjects.


METHODS
A total of 302 woodworkers and 71 non-exposed subjects answered a respiratory health questionnaire, underwent a non-specific bronchial provocation test using the Yan method, and received a skin prick test with 12 common inhalant allergens. Subgroups performed repeated peak flow monitoring and underwent a reversibility test. A total of 347 dust measurements among 234 woodworkers were performed with passive dust monitors.


RESULTS
The overall geometric mean (geometric standard deviation) exposure to inhalable dust was 0.96 (2.02) mg/m3. There was a tendency to increased risk of asthma among atopic woodworkers compared to atopic non-exposed subjects, with ORs between 3.0 (0.8-11.9) (symptomatic BHR) and 1.3 (0.5-4.2) (work related symptoms). In woodworkers, asthma was associated with atopy, with ORs between 7.4 (2.8-19.7) (symptomatic BHR) and 4.2 (2.4-7.7) (asthma symptoms). Asthma was related to dust level, most pronounced for symptomatic BHR among atopics, with OR 22.9 (1.0-523.6) for the highest compared to the lowest dust level. For work related asthma symptoms the association with dust level was seen only for non-atopics.


CONCLUSIONS
Wood dust exposure was associated with asthma, despite a low dust level compared to other studies. Atopy was an important effect modifier in the association between asthma and wood dust exposure.
Schlünssen
V
V
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skive Hospital, DK 7800 Skive, Denmark. vivi_schlunssen@dadlnet.dk
Schaumburg
I
I
Heederik
D
D
Taudorf
E
E
Sigsgaard
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000209:etiology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014934:Wood
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust