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The risk of occupational rhinitis
M Hytönen1, L Kanerva, H Malmberg
1Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. maija.hytonen@occuphealth.fi
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Occupational rhinitis risk is highest for furriers, bakers, and livestock breeders. This study suggests rhinitis often precedes asthma, appearing at younger ages.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Epidemiology
- Allergology
Background:
- Limited data exists on the causes and risks of occupational rhinitis across various professions.
- Occupational rhinitis and asthma are significant workplace health concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify occupations with elevated occupational rhinitis risk.
- Compare age and gender distributions for occupational rhinitis and asthma.
- Analyze common causative agents of occupational rhinitis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (1986-1991).
- Linked occupational disease cases with longitudinal census data.
- Analyzed relative risks and age-standardized rates.
Main Results:
- Furriers, bakers, and livestock breeders exhibited the highest relative risk for occupational rhinitis.
- Key triggers included animal dander, flours, wood dusts, textiles, phthalic acid anhydrides, and storage mites.
- Occupational rhinitis cases were reported at younger ages compared to occupational asthma.
Conclusions:
- Furriers, bakers, and livestock breeders face the most significant occupational rhinitis risk.
- The findings suggest occupational rhinitis may be a precursor to occupational asthma.
- Occupational rhinitis incidence varies by age and gender.