title: Work-related allergies to storage mites in Parma (Italy) ham workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of storage mites in the development of allergic diseases among ham production workers, and to search for early alterations in lung function tests and early inflammation markers in exhaled air. Respiratory allergies due to storage mites have been reported in people with various occupations but, although such mites are unavoidable when curing ham, there are no published data concerning ham production workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  220 participants (110 ham production workers and 110 controls) were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workers answered a medical questionnaire, and underwent spirometry and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide at 50 mL/s (FeNO₅₀) measurements. Those with allergic symptoms also underwent skin prick tests to determine their sensitisation to airborne allergens. A methacholine test was performed in symptomatic participants when spirometry was normal to assess airways hyper-responsiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptomatic storage mite sensitisation was observed in 16 workers (14.5%) (rhinoconjunctivitis in 15 (63%) and asthma in (4%)) and 2 controls (1.8%; p=0.001). Higher FeNO₅₀ values in exposed symptomatic workers compared with healthy control participants (34.65±7.49 vs 13.29±4.29 ppb; p<0.001) suggested bronchial and nasal involvement, although their lung function parameters were normal. Regardless of exposure, a FeNO₅₀ value of 22.5 ppb seems to be 100% sensitive and 99.4% specific in distinguishing allergic and non-allergic participants. Multivariate analysis of FeNO₅₀ values in the symptomatic participants showed that they were positively influenced by IgE-mediated allergy (p=0.001) and reported symptom severity (p=0.041), and negatively by smoking status (p=0.049).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ham processing workers, as well as workers involved in any meat processing work that includes curing, should be informed about the occupational risk of sensitisation to mites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tafuro
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Erminia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ridolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagni
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corradi
mesh_terms: D040041:Acaridae; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: OCCUPATIONAL & INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE