Brassica oleracea pollen, a new source of occupational allergens.
BACKGROUND
Vegetable pollen is a rare source of occupational allergens. Occupational allergy has only been described in the case of paprika pollen and tomato pollen. We describe a new source of occupational pollen allergy.


OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence and the impact of broccoli and cauliflower pollen allergy in employees involved in classical plant breeding.


METHODS
Fifty-four employees of five companies working with cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis) and broccoli (B. oleracea italica/cymosa) pollen were eligible for complete evaluation. Allergy to cauliflower and broccoli pollen was evaluated by questionnaire and determination of sensitization by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and skin-prick tests (SPT). SPT and RAST were performed with a panel of commercial and homemade extracts from cauliflower and broccoli pollen.


RESULTS
Work-related symptoms such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma and urticaria caused by B. oleracea pollen were reported by 44% of the participants (24/54), of whom all but one had positive SPT for cauliflower- and/or broccoli-pollen/flower extracts and 58% (14/24) had positive RAST results. Symptoms had developed within the first 2 years in 33% of the patients. Six patients had to stop or change work.


CONCLUSIONS
Brassica oleracea pollen is a new source of occupational allergen with strong allergenic potential leading to symptoms in almost half of the exposed employees.
Hermanides
H K
HK
Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Laheÿ-de Boer
A M
AM
Zuidmeer
L
L
Guikers
C
C
van Ree
R
R
Knulst
A C
AC
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001937:Brassica / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D000485:Allergens