title: The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among mushroom workers in Ireland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and upper airways symptoms have been ascribed to fungal exposures. Mushroom workers may be at risk of these as a consequence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in mushroom workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study assessed 4 weeks of respiratory symptoms among mushroom workers divided into four categories of exposure, using a self-administered respiratory questionnaire and spirometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The population of 191 subjects was predominantly (66%) from Eastern Europe; 61% were women and 39% were under 30. It included 73 growers, 38 composters, 26 administrators and 52 packers. Among all workers, there was a high prevalence (67%) of one or more respiratory symptoms which did not appear to vary by age, gender, pack-years of smoking or duration of employment. There was a significant improvement in respiratory symptoms in workers during absence from the workplace (P < 0.001). Spirometry readings across all groups were within normal values. Symptom profiles suggest that as many as 22 workers had symptoms of airways disease; 18 (82%) of these were mushroom growers. Growers were significantly more likely to have symptoms consistent with airways disease than all other workers, odds ratio 9.2 (95% CI 3.0-28.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms among mushroom workers. Mushroom growers may be at high risk of airways disease, possibly from fungal antigens or related exposures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Cavan Monaghan Hospital, Lisdaran, Cavan, Ireland, james.hayes@hse.ie.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Academic Institute of Neurology, Trinity Bioscience Institute, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rooney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000363:Agaricales; D000383:Agriculture; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005061:Europe, Eastern; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chronic cough; mushroom workers; respiratory symptoms.