Occupational asthma in the salmon processing industry: a case series.

Objectives: Exposure to bioaerosols in salmon processing workers is associated with occupational asthma. IgE-mediated allergy and other disease mechanisms may be involved in airway inflammation and obstruction. Knowledge about disease burden, mechanisms, phenotypes and occupational exposure is limited.

Effects of Interventions to Prevent Work-Related Asthma, Allergy, and Other Hypersensitivity Reactions in Norwegian Salmon Industry Workers (SHInE): Protocol for a Pragmatic Allocated Intervention Trial and Related Substudies.

Background: Workers in the salmon processing industry have an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases and other hypersensitivity responses due to occupational exposure to bioaerosols containing fish proteins and microorganisms, and related allergens. Little is known about effective measures to reduce bioaerosol exposure and about the extent of skin complaints among workers. In addition, while identification of risk factors is a core activity in disease prevention strategies, there is increasing interest in health-promoting factors, which is an understudied area in the salmon processing industry.

A Sensitive Assay for Proteases in Bioaerosol Samples: Characterization and Quantification of Airborne Proteases in Salmon Industry Work Environments.

Proteases are probably underestimated exposure agents in bioaerosols. Their roles as barrier disrupters in allergic sensitization and activators of innate inflammation call for more attention in exposure-response studies. The main objectives of this study was (i) to establish a suitable method for detection of small quantities of proteases in filtered air samples and (ii) to utilize the method to characterize exposure to proteases in a salmon industry work environment.

Respiratory symptoms, lung functions, and exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in two types of fish processing workers: Russian trawler fishermen and Norwegian salmon industry workers.

Objective: Respiratory outcomes and work-related factors were studied in two seafood worker populations representing different occupational environments.

Methods: Levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), spirometric values, prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and self-evaluated exposures were compared between 139 Norwegian salmon workers and 127 Russian trawler workers.

Results: Increased odds ratios (ORs) of shortness of breath with wheezing and prolonged cough as general respiratory symptoms were found in salmon workers, while increased ORs of work-related dry cough and running nose were found in trawler fishermen.

Respiratory effects of bioaerosols: exposure-response study among salmon-processing workers.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine exposure-response relationships in salmon-processing workers.

Methods: Cross-shift FEV1, acute respiratory symptoms, and exposure to total protein, parvalbumin and endotoxin were main variables measured during one workweek. Exposure-response relationships were analyzed by Generalized Estimation Equations of cross-week data and by multiple regressions of day-to-day data.

An analysis of the respiratory health status among seafarers in the Russian trawler and merchant fleets.

Objectives: Trawler fishermen and merchant seafarers have tough working conditions. While workers in both occupations are exposed to a challenging environment, trawler fishermen are also engaged in onboard fish processing, which is considered to be additional exposure. The aim of the present study was to characterize respiratory health status in both groups of seamen.

Respiratory impairment in Norwegian salmon industry workers: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the respiratory status in salmon-processing workers.

Methods: The study population was composed of 139 salmon workers and 214 controls. A study protocol comprised a questionnaire, spirometry, measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration, and total and specific immunoglobulin E analyses.