Reference

Ameille J, Pauli G, CalastrengCrinquand A et al, Reported incidence of occupational asthma in France, J Occup Environ Med, 2003;60:136-41,

BOHRF Original Authors' Main Conclusions

The original authors' main conclusions are taken from Abstract, Results and Discussion. They are decided upon by the authors of the BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines and form part of the guidelines.

New cases of occupational asthma were collected by a national surveillance programme, based on voluntary reporting and a network of occupational and chest physicians. In 1996-99 the mean annual rate of occupational asthma was 24/million. Rates in men were higher than in women (27/million versus 19/million). The most frequently incriminated agents were flour (20%), isocyanates (14%), latex (7%), aldehydes (6%), persulfate salts (6%), and wood dusts (4%). The highest risks of occupational asthma were found in bakers and pastry makers (683/million). The authors conclude that the relevance of the programme is confirmed by the annual reproducibility of the results and consistency with other surveillance programmes.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

The BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines state that this reference is associated with the following evidence statements

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The annual population incidence of occupationally related asthma ranges from an estimated 12 to 170 cases per million workers with an estimated mean of 47 cases per million workers.

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The most frequently reported agents include isocyanates, flour and grain dust, colophony and fluxes, latex, animals, aldehydes and wood dust.

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The workers most commonly reported to surveillance schemes of occupational asthma include paint sprayers, bakers and pastry makers, nurses, chemical workers, animal handlers, welders, food processing workers and timber workers.