Aeroallergens and work-related respiratory symptoms among office workers

JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY

卷:101

Article

Menzies, D ; Comtois, P ; Pasztor, J ; Nunes, F ; Hanley, JA

关键词: building-related illness;    aeroallergens;    respiratory symptoms;    house dust mites;    Alternaria spp.;   

DOI  :  10.1016/S0091-6749(98)70191-5

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Objective: We sought to determine the association between office workers' respiratory tract symptoms and immediate skin test reactions with exposure to fungal and house dust mite aeroallergens at their work sites. Methods: An initial prevalence survey was conducted among 1102 full-time workers in six mechanically ventilated, air-conditioned, nonindustrial buildings in downtown Montreal. Detailed environmental measures of 214 subjects' work sites were determined, Half of the workers reported frequent work-related respiratory tract symptoms on the initial survey. Participants simultaneously underwent allergy skin prick testing and completed a second self-administered questionnaire. Results: Contaminant levels were low and not associated with symptoms in the great majority of workers. For approximately 17% of workers, symptoms were associated with exposure to total concentrations of house dust mite allergen greater than 1 mu g/gm floor dust (odds ratio [OR], 5.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3, 19.5]) or to detectable airborne Alternaria allergens in their offices (OR 3.3; 95% CI, 1.2, 9.4) and in the ventilation system supplying their offices (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.6, 9.6). Workers with positive skin test reactions to Alternaria extract were exposed at their work site to airborne Alternaria allergen (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.4, 14.5) and cited significantly more respiratory symptoms on both questionnaires. Detection of airborne Alternaria allergen at work sites was significantly associated with detection in the ventilation system (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4, 10.9); this was in turn associated with lower efficiency filters. Conclusions: Potentially avoidable exposure to aeroallergens accounted for symptoms in a small subgroup of office workers with frequent work-related respiratory tract symptoms.

【 授权许可】

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