title: Diisocyanate and non-diisocyanate sensitizer-induced occupational asthma frequency during 2003 to 2007 in Ontario, Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate proportions and outcomes of isocyanate and other causes of occupational asthma (OA) claims in Ontario, Canada, 2003 to 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  New accepted workers' compensation claims for OA compensated by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board were retrospectively reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 112 allowed claims for OA-30 (26.8%) from diisocyanates (ISO) and 82 (73.2%) from other causes (non-diisocyanates [N-ISO]). The most common occupations for ISO OA were production workers (50%). The most common agents in the N-ISO group were flour (13%) and metal dusts/fumes (10%). At a median time of 8 months postdiagnosis, 55% of ISO and 56.4% of N-ISO workers, respectively, were unemployed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diisocyanates OA compensation claims in Ontario are recognized at a lower absolute number and proportion of all OA claims than those in earlier periods. More than half from all causes were unemployed at a median of 8 months postdiagnosis.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Medicine (Drs Ribeiro and Tarlo) and Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Drs Tarlo and Liss, Ms Czyrka, and Ms Vernich), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Section of Respirology (Dr Ribeiro), Department of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, State University of Londrina, Parana, Brazil; Department of Medicine, University Health Network (Dr Tarlo); Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (Ms Luce); and Ontario Ministry of Labour (Dr Liss), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tarlo
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Czyrka
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vernich
authors.forename: Carol E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Luce
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Liss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D059366:Asthma, Occupational / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D017953:Isocyanates