Occupational Allergy and Asthma Among Salt Water Fish Processing Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baatjies R ; Bateman E ; Jeebhay MF ; Lopata AL ; Miller ME ; Robins TG ; Smuts M
• Description:
  Background: Fish processing is a common economic activity in Southern Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and host determinants of allergic symptoms, allergic sensitization, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and asthma among workers processing saltwater fish. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 594 currently employed workers in two processing plants involved in pilchard canning and fishmeal processing. A modified European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire was used. Skin prick tests (SPT) used extracts of common airborne allergens, fresh fish (pilchard, anchovy, maasbanker, mackerel, red eye) and fishmeal. Spirometry and methacholine challenge tests (MCTs; tidal breathing method) used ATS guidelines. Results: Work-related ocular-nasal symptoms (26%) were more common than asthma symptoms (16%). The prevalence of atopy was 36%, while 7% were sensitized to fish species and 26% had NSBH (PC20 less than and equal to 8 mg/ml or greater than and equal to 12% increase in FEV1 post-bronchodilator). The prevalence of probable occupational asthma was 1.8% and fish allergic rhino-conjunctivitis 2.6%. Women were more likely to report work-related asthma symptoms (OR=1.94) and have NSBH (OR=3.09), while men were more likely to be sensitized to fish (OR=2.06) and have airway obstruction (OR=4.17). Atopy (OR=3.16) and current smoking (OR=2.37), but not habitual seafood consumption were associated with sensitization to fish. Conclusions: Based on comparison with previous published studies, the prevalence of occupational asthma to saltwater fish is lower than due to shellfish. The gendered distribution of work and exposures in fish processing operations together with atopy and cigarette smoking are important determinants of occupational allergy and asthma. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Food-Processing Industry Food Handling Food Industry Hunting Hypersensitivity Men Methacholine Compounds Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Skin Smokers Surveys And Questionnaires Women

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• Keywords:
  Airway-obstruction Allergies Atopy Author Keywords: Fish Processing Bronchial-asthma Fish-meal Fishing-industry Food-processing Food-processing-workers Gender Methacholines Occupational Allergy Pulmonary-system-disorders Questionnaires Respiratory-system-disorders Skin-tests Smoking Spirometry Work-related Asthma

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  51
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034819
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2008 Dec; 51(12):899-910
• Contact Point Address:
  Mohamed F. Jeebhay, Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of CapeTown, Room 4.44, Fourth Level, Falmouth Building, Anzio Road, Observatory,Western Cape 7925, South Africa
• Email:
  mohamed.jeebhay@uct.ac.za
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  1141 - Fishing - (NAICS)
• Start Date:
  19990930
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20030929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d7001fd4f330c669a35dea523510af2c14f51c746b881e0735b25cbc15f9724badfd7884a46e92d768f6e961bc32cff5e88bcdcbe3267f6428684064a4d5b8ed
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/186883/cdc_186883_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 148.55 KB ]