Respiratory Symptoms Among Crab Processing Workers in Alaska: Epidemiological and Environmental Assessment

Details

• Personal Author:
  Berardinelli S Jr. ; Daroowalla, Feroza ; Jones, William G. ; Kreiss, Kathleen ; Lewis, Dick ; Ortega, Hector G. ; Petsonk, Edward L. ; Weissman, David N.
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: Crab processing workers may develop respiratory symptoms and specific IgE responses, but the risk factors have not been fully described. METHODS: In 1998, 107 workers at a crab processing facility completed a survey both at the beginning and end of the processing season. The surveys included standardized symptom questionnaires, spirometry, and serological testing, as well as measurement of workplace airborne crab allergens and microscopic analysis of aerosolized materials. RESULTS: Over the crab processing season, asthma-like symptoms developed in 26% of study participants and bronchitic symptoms in 19%. Only 9% of those with new asthma-like symptoms were IgE-sensitized to crab at the end of the season. Among the crab processing jobs, butchering and degilling workers had the highest incidence of respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Both personal and process-related factors appear to affect the development of respiratory symptoms in crab processing workers. In this study, crab specific IgE was not detected in most of the workers with new symptoms. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Food-Processing Industry Food Handling Food Industry Hypersensitivity Irritants Microbiology Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Aerosol-particles Allergic-reactions Author Keywords: Occupational Asthma Bronchitis Crab Environmental Assessment Food-handlers Food-processing Food-processing-workers IgE Microscopic-analysis Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alaska ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  39
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021826
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2001 Jun; 39(6):598-607
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Hector G. Ortega, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Respirator y Disease Studies, 1095 Wil lowda le Road, Suite 2800, Morgantown, WV 26505
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:53d4371462178039dea510bbf681aa808f9f4618c97090185089763763582e98441b796c994fb6abc6bb0db5611a63bc70b2b840a8c324aae57e6fe684eeefee
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198926/cdc_198926_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 119.36 KB ]