Respiratory Symptoms Among Bakers' Apprentices: Are There Mechanisms Other Than Allergy?

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Allergy
Article Date: 29 Jul 2008 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

It has previously been claimed that working as a baker involves, as a consequence, a great risk of evolving allergy and respiratory symptoms. The basis for this assumption was based on cross-sectional studies.

In this study, undertaken by Tina Skjodt (Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark) and her team, bakers' apprentices were followed prospectively for three years to determine the sequence by which allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis evolved. An extensive panel of common and occupational allergens was used for regular testing.

Surprisingly, only a few bakers' apprentices became sensitised to occupational allergens, whereas the occurrence of new respiratory symptoms was high. The development of new symptoms was associated with the duration of exposure. Thus, the study points toward mechanisms other than allergy as being responsible for respiratory symptoms among bakers' apprentices.

Title of Original Article
The incidence of respiratory symptoms and sensitisation in baker apprentices
European Respiratory Journal (Erj), Vol. 32, No 2

The European Respiratory Journal is the peer-reviewed scientific publication of the European Respiratory Society (more than 8,000 specialists in lung diseases and respiratory medicine in Europe, the United States and Australia).

European Respiratory Journal