Snow crab allergy and asthma among Greenlandic workers--a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To study snow crab sensitization, occupational allergy and asthma in the snow crab industry in Greenland, as high rates have been found in Canada, but no reports have emerged from the same industry in Greenland.


METHODS
Pilot survey.


METHODS
Twenty workers (19 of Inuit and 1 of other origin) in a snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and Atlantic shrimp (Pandalus borealis) processing plant in Greenland were assessed with skin prick tests (SPTs) with common aeroallergens and specific allergens from snow crab and shrimp extracts, spirometry, blood sampling for total IgE and specific IgE determination. Eighteen workers contributed a questionnaire-based medical interview.


RESULTS
Positive skin prick test reactions were common to snow crab (40%) and shrimp (20%). Specific IgE to snow crab were positive in 4 workers (21%). Two workers had elevated total IgE levels. Symptoms suggestive of asthma were common (45%). Work-related symptoms of skin rash, rhinitis, and/or conjunctivitis were reported by 50%, and symptoms from the lower airways by 39%. Combining history of work-related symptoms with results from specific SPTs and/or specific IgE determination suggested that 11 and 22% of workers suffered from probable and possible occupational asthma, respectively, whereas 22% had possible occupational dermatitis or rhinitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Greenlander Inuit do not appear to be protected against sensitization to snow crab or shrimp when occupationally exposed to these. This pilot study suggests that occupational allergy and asthma may be as common a problem in Greenlandic workers as in Canadian.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, School of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. jb@mil.au.dk
Jakob Hjort
JH
Bønløkke
Denyse
D
Gautrin
Torben
T
Sigsgaard
Samuel B
SB
Lehrer
Karim
K
Maghni
André
A
Cartier
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D003386:Brachyura; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012758:Shellfish / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult