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Updated: Oct 4, 2025
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Symptom Assessment of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Using an Allergen Exposure Chamber
Published on: March 3, 2023
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Occupational and environmental exposures, the association with chronic sinusitis
Feras M Alkholaiwi1, Rahaf R Almutairi1, Danah M Alrajhi1
1From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Alkholaiwi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohmmad Ibn Saud Islamic University; from the Collage of Medicine (Almutairi, Alrajhi, Alturki, Binyousef), Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh; and from Unaizah Collage of Medicine (Almutairi) Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Medical Journal
|February 3, 2022
Summary
Environmental and occupational factors like smoking, farming, and pesticide exposure are linked to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Blue-collar jobs significantly increase CRS risk, affecting more men than women.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent condition with multifactorial etiology.
- Understanding the role of environmental and occupational exposures is crucial for prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between environmental and occupational exposures and the development of chronic rhinosinusitis.
- To identify specific risk factors contributing to CRS prevalence.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar.
- Included studies published between 1989 and 2021 reporting on chronic and occupational rhinosinusitis.
- Excluded studies on allergic rhinitis, other upper airway diseases, and non-English articles.
Main Results:
- Fifteen articles were reviewed, analyzing data from thousands of patients.
- Smoke exposure was the most significant environmental factor linked to CRS.
- Living in rural areas (farms) and pesticide exposure also showed a strong association with higher CRS prevalence.
- Blue-collar occupations (firefighters, farmers, fishermen) were significantly related to CRS development.
- CRS affected more men than women.
Conclusions:
- Smoking is identified as the most significant aggravating environmental factor for CRS.
- Direct contact with allergens exacerbates CRS symptom severity.
- Individuals in blue-collar occupations face a disproportionately higher risk of developing CRS.
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