title: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in textile and agricultural workers and in bakers.
abstract: To assess the prevalence and the characteristics of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in subjects occupationally exposed to organic dusts we performed a cross-sectional study including 152 exposed subjects (67 textile workers, 42 agricultural workers, and 43 bakers) and 72 unexposed controls. Evaluation of exposed and unexposed subjects included a questionnaire, skin prick tests to common inhalant allergens, spirometry, and exercise challenge tests (ECT). The EIB prevalence found in textile workers was 8.9 %, in agricultural workers 7.1 %, in bakers 6.9 %, and in office workers 5.5 %. The highest bronchial reaction to exercise was found in ECT-positive agricultural workers (26.1+/-6.9), followed by textile workers (25.2+/-7.4), bakers (23.0+/-5.8), and office workers (21.8+/-4.4). EIB was significantly associated with atopy and positive family history of asthma in all exposed groups. EIB was significantly associated with smoking duration in textile workers (P=0.039) and agricultural workers (P=0.027). Bronchial reaction to exercise was significantly greater in smoking than in non-smoking textile (P=0.045) and agricultural workers (P=0.032). Our data suggest that the combination of daily smoking and workplace exposure to certain types of organic dusts could contribute to EIB development and severity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health - WHO Collaborative Center for Occupational Health, Skopje, Macedonia. minovj@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minov
authors.forename: Jovanka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karadzinska-Bislimovska
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vasilevska
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Risteska-Kuc
authors.forename: Saso
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoleski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D000485:Allergens; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013147:Spirometry; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust