title: Nasal indices of eosinophilic and exudative inflammation in bakery-workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rhinitis symptoms frequently occur in bakery-workers. Yet, little is known about the pathophysiology of this condition. The objective of the present study was to examine nasal indices of inflammation in relation to occupational dust exposure, occupational rhinitis according to defined criteria, rhinitis symptoms associated to the workplace, and occupational sensitization in bakery-workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bakery-workers (n = 197) were subjected to interviews, questionnaires, workplace dust measurements, allergy tests, and nasal lavages with and without histamine. alpha(2)-Macroglobulin and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were measured in saline lavages as indices of plasma exudation and eosinophilic activity, respectively. Histamine lavages were employed to explore the nasal exudative responsiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  alpha(2)-Macroglobulin and ECP increased significantly by increased workplace dust exposure (P< or =0.035). Furthermore, the exudative responsiveness to histamine increased significantly by such exposure (P< or =0.016). Similar patterns were seen in workers with occupational rhinitis and in subjects with rhinitis symptoms associated to the workplace, but not in workers with occupational sensitization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that occupational dust exposure in bakery-workers is associated with nasal eosinophilic exudative inflammation. In contrast, occupational sensitization is not a discriminating factor with regard to indices of eosinophilic, exudative inflammation in the present material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. torgeir.storaas@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Torgeir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storaas
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ardal
authors.forename: Thien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Do
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Florvaag
authors.forename: Sverre K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Steinsvåg
authors.forename: Agot
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irgens
authors.forename: Tor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Aasen
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greiff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009666:Nose / Q000276:immunology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004391:Dust