title: Prevalence of crab asthma in crab plant workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of snow crab sensitisation and occupational asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence study of symptoms, pulmonary function testing and allergy testing to crab was conducted in four crab plants of different design in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plants workers in four crab plants were interviewed and offered skin testing, RAST, pulmonary function testing and peak flow monitoring before and during crab processing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  38% (n=78) had atopy. 18% (n=39) had certain or highly probable crab asthma. The prevalence of sensitisation in different crab plants varied from 50% (n=19) to 15% (n=16) and the prevalence of certain or highly probable crab asthma varied from 50% (n=19) to 9% (n=3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crab asthma and sensitisation to snow crab is a major health problem for snow crab plant workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lehrer
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horth-Susin
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neis
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howse
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003445:Crustacea; D006801:Humans; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence