[Allergy in the workplace--epidemiological prognoses and perspectives of hygienic prophylaxis].

Asthma and allergy are common among adults of the working age and their prevalence is growing in developed countries. The implementation of an effective surveillance, "sentinel" program, like the British SWORD is required so that public health strategies can be developed for occupational asthma and allergy in Poland. The use of personal dust samplers and specific immunoassays has facilitated the evaluations of exposure response relationships in workers exposed to high molecular weight sensitizers, e.g., wheat allergens, fungal alpha-amylase, laboratory animal allergens. To introduce hygiene standards for occupational allergens their standardization is still required, let us hope that this tasks will be very soon accomplished.