J Brisman1, B Järvholm, L Lillienberg. 1. Occupational Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. jonas.brisman@ymk.gu.se
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To explore relations between two estimates of exposure to inhalable flour dust, and the incidence rates (IRs) of asthma and rhinitis in bakers. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study among 2923 bakers. A posted questionnaire registered the disease and work history. For every year, each baker was assigned an estimate of the exposure concentration to inhalable flour dust derived from reported job-tasks and dust measurements. Exposure at onset of disease was expressed as current dust exposure concentration, and as cumulative dose of exposure to dust. A multiple Poisson regression analysis assessed the impacts of the exposure estimates on the IRs of asthma and rhinitis. RESULTS: IRs of asthma and rhinitis increased by dust concentration at onset of disease. The IR of asthma for the bakers with highest exposure (dough makers) was 7. 3/1000 person-years in men and 6.5 in women and for rhinitis 43.4 and 38.5, respectively. There was a significant association between the dust concentration at onset of disease and the risk for asthma or rhinitis, but not of the cumulative exposure. CONCLUSION: The risk of asthma seemed to be increased at inhalable dust concentrations >/=3 mg/m(3) (dough making or bread forming), whereas the risk of rhinitis was increased at all concentrations >/=1 mg/m(3), indicating an increased risk in all bakery job-tasks. The risks seemed to be less dependent on the cumulative exposure dust than the inhalable dust concentrations.
OBJECTIVES: To explore relations between two estimates of exposure to inhalable flour dust, and the incidence rates (IRs) of asthma and rhinitis in bakers. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study among 2923 bakers. A posted questionnaire registered the disease and work history. For every year, each baker was assigned an estimate of the exposure concentration to inhalable flour dust derived from reported job-tasks and dust measurements. Exposure at onset of disease was expressed as current dust exposure concentration, and as cumulative dose of exposure to dust. A multiple Poisson regression analysis assessed the impacts of the exposure estimates on the IRs of asthma and rhinitis. RESULTS: IRs of asthma and rhinitis increased by dust concentration at onset of disease. The IR of asthma for the bakers with highest exposure (dough makers) was 7. 3/1000 person-years in men and 6.5 in women and for rhinitis 43.4 and 38.5, respectively. There was a significant association between the dust concentration at onset of disease and the risk for asthma or rhinitis, but not of the cumulative exposure. CONCLUSION: The risk of asthma seemed to be increased at inhalable dust concentrations >/=3 mg/m(3) (dough making or bread forming), whereas the risk of rhinitis was increased at all concentrations >/=1 mg/m(3), indicating an increased risk in all bakery job-tasks. The risks seemed to be less dependent on the cumulative exposure dust than the inhalable dust concentrations.
Authors: A W Musk; K M Venables; B Crook; A J Nunn; R Hawkins; G D Crook; B J Graneek; R D Tee; N Farrer; D A Johnson Journal: Br J Ind Med Date: 1989-09
Authors: Carla Viegas; Gerard T A Fleming; Abdul Kadir; Beatriz Almeida; Liliana Aranha Caetano; Anita Quintal Gomes; Magdalena Twarużek; Robert Kosicki; Susana Viegas; Ann Marie Coggins Journal: Microorganisms Date: 2020-01-15