The risk of occupational rhinitis

Reports on the aetiology and risk of occupational rhinitis in different occupations are scarce. The purpose of this study was to find the occupations with an increased risk of occupational rhinitis. Age and gender differences in occupational rhinitis and occupational asthma were also compared, and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International archives of occupational and environmental health 1997, Vol.69 (6), p.487-490
Main Authors: HYTÖNEN, M, KANERVA, L, MALMBERG, H, MARTIKAINEN, R, MUTANEN, P, TOIKKANEN, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Allergic diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Finland - epidemiology
Humans
Immunopathology
Incidence
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupations
Population Surveillance
Registries
Respiratory and ent allergic diseases
Rhinitis - epidemiology
Rhinitis - etiology
Risk
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
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Summary:Reports on the aetiology and risk of occupational rhinitis in different occupations are scarce. The purpose of this study was to find the occupations with an increased risk of occupational rhinitis. Age and gender differences in occupational rhinitis and occupational asthma were also compared, and the most common causes of occupational rhinitis were analysed. This study covered the cases of occupational rhinitis and asthma reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases during the years 1986-1991. The cases on the Register were linked to the longitudinal census data file from the Finnish censuses. During 1986-1991, 1244 new cases of occupational rhinitis (474 women and 497 men) and 1867 new cases of occupational asthma (916 women and 951 men) were reported to the Register. Animal dander, flours, wood dusts, textiles, phthalic acid anhydrides and storage mites were important causes of occupational rhinitis. The highest relative risk of occupational rhinitis was among furriers, the age-standardized rate ratio (SRR) was 30.0. Bakers and livestock breeders had also a markedly elevated relative risk (SRR = 22.0). Men had the highest incidence of occupational rhinitis at the age of 25-29 years and among women the incidence gradually increased and reached the peak in the group 40-44 years of age. Furriers, bakers, and livestock breeders had the most elevated relative risk of occupational rhinitis. Occupational rhinitis cases reported at a younger age than asthma, suggesting that rhinitis often precedes asthma.
ISSN:0340-0131
1432-1246
DOI:10.1007/s004200050178