Unsuitability of bakery work for a person with atopy: a study of 234 bakery workers.

A disease of the atopic group was established in 25% of bakery employees investigated: 9% had asthma, 25% allergic rhinitis and 5% atopic eczema. The definite role of flour dust as an allergen maintaining asthma was established in 14 of 21 bakery employees with asthma. The onset of asthma in bakery work occurred after an average of 4.2 years of exposure to flour dust. The study revealed that 71% of the bakers suffering from an atopic disease had close relations with a history of atopic disease, whereas the corresponding percentage for the healthy group was 17. The results indicated that no person with current atopic disease or earlier signs of one should be given employment in the bakery branch. A relative bar to employment appears to be also the occurrence of these forms of diseases in the applicant's close relations.