title: Investigating nasal cytology as a potential tool for diagnosing occupational rhinitis in woodworkers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our primary endpoint was to use nasal cytology to compare woodworkers with unexposed subjects to see if wood dust exposure correlates with specific patterns of inflammatory or infectious rhinitis. A secondary endpoint was to identify any differences in the exposed group's nasal symptoms or nasal cytology by years of exposure or personal exposure levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two woodworkers and 90 controls were assessed using a questionnaire and nasal cytology (on nasal mucosa obtained by scraping). Wood dust exposure was investigated using personal sampling methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Woodworkers reported significantly more nasal symptoms than controls (p < 0.00001). The woodworkers' nasal smears revealed more neutrophils (p = 0.001) and significantly higher mean neutrophil scores (p = 0.001) than control smears. Lymphocytes were also found more often in the woodworkers' rhinocytograms (statistical trend, p = 0.06). Neutrophilic rhinitis was diagnosed more frequently in the exposed workers than in controls (chi-square = 5.97, p < 0.05). Woodworkers with lymphocytes in their nasal smears had been exposed to wood dust for longer periods of time (statistical trend; p = 0.06). No differences in nasal symptoms or cell counts emerged when woodworkers were stratified by levels of personal exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal cytology should be further investigated in woodworkers before considering it a screening method for identifying woodworkers with chronic inflammatory rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Treviso Regional Hospital Branch, University of Padova, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Staffieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lovato
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Treviso Regional Hospital Branch, University of Padova, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aielli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Preventive Medicine and Risk Assessment Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bortoletto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Preventive Medicine and Risk Assessment Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Treviso Regional Hospital, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Treviso Regional Hospital Branch, University of Padova, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boscolo-Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, Treviso Regional Hospital Branch, University of Padova, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Da Mosto
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Preventive Medicine and Risk Assessment Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Otolaryngology Section, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Gino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marioni
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Preventive Medicine and Risk Assessment Unit, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Scapellato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014934:Wood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust
keywords: nasal cytology; occupational rhinitis; personal exposure; wood dust; woodworkers