Allergens in the workplace

Allergy is an important cause of work-related illness. Data are presented concerning the prevalence and relationship of atopy and hypersensitivity states in persons working as grain handlers, pathologists, and medical laboratory technologists. Studies were carried out in the above occupational groups in the Province of Alberta. A survey of male grain handlers failed to demonstrate significant differences between their serum total IgE levels and allergen specific IgE profiles and those of a control group of sedentary workers. Investigation of pathologists in active practice indicated that 46% of the study group had problems related to formaldehyde. There was no tendency for atopic subjects to be more sensitive to formaldehyde and no subjects had detectable circulating formaldehyde-specific IgE. Since the introduction of Universal Precautions into the clinical laboratory, there has been an increased incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to latex. A controlled investigation of medical laboratory technologists found that, although most subjects with latex glove-related problems had no in vitro evidence of IgE mediated hypersensitivity to latex, three subjects (2.5%) were RAST positive for latex and hence at risk of an anaphylactic reaction with continued exposure to the allergen. A history of atopy was more common in the group with glove-related problems and the severity of the skin reactions documented were more severe in smokers.