title: Exposure and airway effects of seafood industry workers in northern Norway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we explored airway symptoms and exposure to bioaerosols and exhaust gases in seafood industry plants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study details the results from personal and environmental exposure measurements (17 plants), a questionnaire (n = 984), and clinical examinations (n = 225).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The workers were exposed to allergens, endotoxins, molds, and exhaust. The 1-year prevalence of work-related airway symptoms was 42.8% for production workers and 25.9% for administrative workers. Mean levels of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity were less than the predicted values in all exposed nonsmoker groups. A total of 20.5% had increased levels of total IgE (>/=100 kU/L). Specific IgE-mediated reactions seemed to be relevant only in the shrimp industry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seafood industry workers showed a high prevalence of work-related airway symptoms. Further research on the relationship between exposure and effects is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Northern Norway, Tromsoe, Norway. berit.bang@umn.no
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Lisbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aasmoe
authors.forename: Beate Hustad
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Aamodt
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aardal
authors.forename: Gerd Sissel
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Andorsen
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bolle
authors.forename: Roald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bøe
authors.forename: Thien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Do
authors.forename: Rosalie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Florvåg
authors.forename: Inger Torill
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Gram
authors.forename: Per Ole
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Huser
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kramvik
authors.forename: Maja-Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Løchen
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017747:Seafood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000633:toxicity*; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007073:Immunoglobulin E