Update of an occupational asthma-specific job exposure matrix to assess exposure to 30 specific agents.

Objectives: We aimed to update an asthmagen job exposure matrix (JEM) developed in the late 1990s. Main reasons were: the number of suspected and recognised asthmagens has since tripled; understanding of the aetiological role of irritants in asthma and methodological insights in application of JEMs have emerged in the period.

Methods: For each agent of the new occupational asthma-specific JEM (OAsJEM), a working group of three experts out of eight evaluated exposure for each International Standard Classification of Occupations, 1988 (ISCO-88) job code into three categories: 'high' (high probability of exposure and moderate-to-high intensity), 'medium' (low-to-moderate probability or low intensity) and 'unexposed'.

Occupational exposures associated with severe exacerbation of asthma.

Background: The exacerbation of asthma by workplace conditions is common, but little is known about which agents pose a risk.

Objective: We used data from an existing survey of adults with asthma to identify occupational exposures associated with severe exacerbation of asthma.

Design: Questionnaires were completed by 557 working adults with asthma.

Exposures and asthma outcomes using two different job exposure matrices in a general population study in northern Europe.

Objective: We have recently published a study on new-onset asthma in a large population in northern Europe using a modified job exposure matrix (N-JEM) to better reflect exposure assignment in these countries. The aim of this paper was to investigate how the N-JEM differs in exposure assignment and asthma risks from an already established JEM.

Method: The study comprised 6253 men and 7031 women from northern Europe, born 1945-1973, who had answered both a screening (1989-1992) and a follow-up questionnaire (1999-2001).

Occupational exposure and new-onset asthma in a population-based study in Northern Europe (RHINE).

Objectives: In a large population-based study among adults in northern Europe the relation between occupational exposure and new-onset asthma was studied.

Methods: The study comprised 13 284 subjects born between 1945 and 1973, who answered a questionnaire 1989-1992 and again 1999-2001. Asthma was defined as 'Asthma diagnosed by a physician' with reported year of diagnose.

Incidence and prevalence of chronic bronchitis: impact of smoking and welding. The RHINE study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and incidence rate of chronic bronchitis (CB) in relation to smoking habits and exposure to welding fumes in a general population sample.

Methods: Subjects from Northern Europe born between 1945 and 1971 who participated in Stage 1 (1989-1994) of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey were mailed a respiratory questionnaire in 1999-2001 (the RHINE study); 15,909 answered the questionnaire and gave complete data on smoking. CB was defined as chronic productive cough of at least 3 months a year for 2 consecutive years.

The occupational contribution to severe exacerbation of asthma.

The goal of this study was to identify occupational risk factors for severe exacerbation of asthma and estimate the extent to which occupation contributes to these events. The 966 participants were working adults with current asthma who participated in the follow-up phase of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Severe exacerbation of asthma was defined as self-reported unplanned care for asthma in the past 12 months.

Respiratory symptoms and exposure-response relations in workers exposed to metalworking fluid aerosols.

The aim of the study was to identify specific health risks and exposure-response relationships associated with exposure to metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols. In a cross-sectional study of machine workers exposed to MWF aerosols in five companies in Sweden, a self-administered questionnaire about health symptoms, work tasks, and exposure situations was sent out to 2294 employees, 1632 exposed and 662 referents. Referents were office workers and metal workers not working with MWFs.

Domestic use of hypochlorite bleach, atopic sensitization, and respiratory symptoms in adults.

Background: Professional use of hypochlorite (bleach) has been associated with respiratory symptoms. Bleach is capable of inactivating allergens, and there are indications that its domestic use may reduce the risk of allergies in children.

Objective: To study the associations between household use of bleach and atopic sensitization, allergic diseases, and respiratory health status in adults.

Exposure to metalworking fluid aerosols and determinants of exposure.

Metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols are associated with respiratory disorders including asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. The aims of this study were to describe exposure to inhalable MWF aerosols and volatile compounds in machine shops, to estimate the influence of important determinants of exposure and to compare different sampling techniques for MWF aerosols. Personal full-shift air samples of inhalable aerosol (PAS-6 sampler) and total aerosol (open-faced sampler) were collected on operators in five medium to big-sized machine shops in three companies.

A population-based study on welding exposures at work and respiratory symptoms.

In the first European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS I), an excess asthma risk was associated with high exposure to gases and fumes, mineral and biological dusts. In a 9-year follow-up study (ECRHS II), the aim was to study if welding at work increases the risk of asthma symptoms, wheeze and chronic bronchitis symptoms. The study also aimed to identify specific welding risk factors.

Exposure to substances in the workplace and new-onset asthma: an international prospective population-based study (ECRHS-II).

Background: The role of exposure to substances in the workplace in new-onset asthma is not well characterised in population-based studies. We therefore aimed to estimate the relative and attributable risks of new-onset asthma in relation to occupations, work-related exposures, and inhalation accidents.

Methods: We studied prospectively 6837 participants from 13 countries who previously took part in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (1990-95) and did not report respiratory symptoms or a history of asthma at the time of the first study.

Non-positive autoimmune responses against CYP2E1 in refrigeration mechanics exposed to halogenated hydrocarbons.

The aim of the study was to determine if occupational exposure to hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) generates autoimmune responses against CYP2E1. HFCs and HCFCs have replaced the chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in e.g.

Occupational risk factors for asthma among nurses and related healthcare professionals in an international study.

Objective: The authors examined the relations between self-reported work tasks, use of cleaning products and latex glove use with new-onset asthma among nurses and other healthcare workers in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS II).

Methods: In a random population sample of adults from 22 European sites, 332 participants reported working in nursing and other related healthcare jobs during the nine-year ECRHS II follow-up period and responded to a supplemental questionnaire about their principal work settings, occupational tasks, products used at work and respiratory symptoms. Poisson regression models with robust error variances were used to compare the risk of new-onset asthma among healthcare workers with each exposure to that of respondents who reported professional or administrative occupations during the entire follow-up period (n = 2481).

Incidence of hand eczema in female Swedish hairdressers.

Objective: To estimate the occurrence of hand eczema in hairdressers in Sweden.

Methods: The occurrence of hand eczema was estimated in a Swedish longitudinal retrospective cohort study including all female graduates from vocational schools for hairdressers from 1970 to 1995. A stratified sample from the general population acted as controls.

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for determination of metalworking fluid aerosols.

A common methodology for analyzing metalworking fluid (MWF) aerosols in workplace air is based on gravimetry before and after organic solvent extraction of the MWFs from a suitable collection filter. Because MWFs have different chemical and physical properties, various mixtures of organic solvents have been used to extract the MWFs from their collection device. An alternative to organic solvents, used in the work presented in this article, is the use of a supercritical fluid.

Fertility among female hairdressers.

Objectives: The study investigated whether working as a hairdresser has a negative impact on fertility, measured as time to pregnancy and miscarriage risk.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were sent to 5289 Swedish hairdressers (response rate 50%) and to 5299 age-matched women from the general Swedish population (response rate 54%). Information was collected on time to pregnancy or trying time for women who had tried, but failed, to conceive at the time of the study.

Obesity and nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux are related to onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Several studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for asthma in both children and adults. An increased prevalence of asthma in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome has also been reported. The aim of this investigation was to study obesity, nocturnal GOR and snoring as independent risk factors for onset of asthma and respiratory symptoms in a Nordic population.

The incidence of respiratory symptoms in female Swedish hairdressers.

Background: Airway diseases in hairdressers are a concern. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the risk for three respiratory symptoms, wheeze, dry cough, and nasal blockage, in hairdressers.

Methods: A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, atopy, smoking, and work history was answered by 3,957 female hairdressers and 4,905 women from the general population as referents.

Sensitisation to occupational allergens in bakers' asthma and rhinitis: a case-referent study.

Objectives: To study the importance of sensitisation to occupational allergens for the occurrence of asthma and rhinitis in bakers.

Methods: This is a nested clinical case-referent study of bakers based on a cohort of Swedish former bakery students. Cases were asthmatic ( n=25) or rhinitic bakers ( n=20).

Time to pregnancy among partners of men exposed to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.

Objectives: This study assessed paternal occupational exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in association with reduced fertility.

Methods: Men working in three plants with DEHP exposure were studied retrospectively. Male and female employees and their partners were invited to participate if they had reported a pregnancy or an attempt to achieve a pregnancy.

Population-based study of non-infectious rhinitis in relation to occupational exposure, age, sex, and smoking.

Background: Many types of occupational exposure are associated with the risk of non-infectious rhinitis. We investigate the risk factors for this association.

Methods: A random population of 2,044 subjects (aged 21-51) answered a questionnaire that was comprised of detailed questions on occupational exposure, nasal complaints, and smoking.

Incidence of asthma in female Swedish hairdressers.

Objective: To investigate the risk of asthma in hairdressers.

Methods: The incidence of asthma was retrospectively estimated in a Swedish nationwide study including all female hairdressers certified from vocational schools from 1970 to 1995, and a stratified sample of women from the general population were referents. A postal questionnaire included questions on respiratory tract symptoms, atopy, smoking, working periods as a hairdresser, and number of specific hair treatments performed/week.

Comparison of four methods to assess fungal alpha-amylase in flour dust.

The aim of the study was to compare four different immunological methods to analyse fungal alpha-amylase in flour dust samples. Three European research groups have independently developed four immuno assay based methods to measure alpha-amylase in air samples. Three of the methods use polyclonal antibodies and one method uses monoclonal antibodies.

Exposure-response relations for self reported asthma and rhinitis in bakers.

Objectives: To explore relations between two estimates of exposure to inhalable flour dust, and the incidence rates (IRs) of asthma and rhinitis in bakers.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study among 2923 bakers. A posted questionnaire registered the disease and work history.

Adult-onset asthma and occupational exposures.

Objectives: This study examined certain occupational exposures and the risk for adult-onset asthma.

Methods: A nested case-referent study of adult-onset asthma was performed on a random population sample (N=15813), aged 21 to 51 years. Cases for the study included 2 groups: subjects reporting "physician-diagnosed" asthma (N=251) and a broader "asthma" group (N=362).