Respiratory impairment in Norwegian salmon industry workers: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the respiratory status in salmon-processing workers.


METHODS
The study population was composed of 139 salmon workers and 214 controls. A study protocol comprised a questionnaire, spirometry, measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration, and total and specific immunoglobulin E analyses.


RESULTS
Adjusted odds ratio of general respiratory symptoms ranged from 2.2 for wheezing to 3.6 for daily morning cough. Salmon workers were found to have an excess of work-related respiratory symptoms (2.9 ≤ adjusted odds ratio ≤ 13.6) and reduced lung function. Positive interaction of smoking and exposure was found for work-related upper respiratory symptoms and shortness of breath. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration levels were higher in controls. None from the controls had salmon-specific immunoglobulin E, compared with 2.2% of salmon workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Salmon-processing workers exhibit impaired respiratory status and are more likely to be sensitized to salmon.
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromso, Norway.
Olga
O
Shiryaeva
Lisbeth
L
Aasmoe
Bjorn
B
Straume
Berit Elisabeth
BE
Bang
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005398:Fisheries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012474:Salmon; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult