Exposure and airway effects of seafood industry workers in northern Norway.
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.
Bang
Berit
B
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Northern Norway, Tromsoe, Norway. berit.bang@umn.no
Aasmoe
Lisbeth
L
Aamodt
Beate Hustad
BH
Aardal
Laila
L
Andorsen
Gerd Sissel
GS
Bolle
Roald
R
Bøe
Roald
R
Van Do
Thien
T
Evans
Rosalie
R
Florvåg
Erik
E
Gram
Inger Torill
IT
Huser
Per Ole
PO
Kramvik
Eva
E
Løchen
Maja-Lisa
ML
Pedersen
Bodil
B
Rasmussen
Tine
T
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
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007073:Immunoglobulin E