Reference

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.

A study of 2800 workers employed in 3 factories covering 11 years of operation showed that 2344 workers had sufficient lung function data to meet the operational criteria and these were analysed in 3 separate groups. Spirometry and prick tests for specific skin reactions to standardised enzyme were performed at six monthly intervals for the first 6 years of the study and then annually. The lung function of the factory groups was analysed for the effects of working in the detergent industry, the degree of exposure to enzymes, skin prick test positivity to enzymes, atopicity, and smoking. Exposure to the enzyme allergen has had no significant long-term effect on the lung function of the detergent workers. A higher proportion of atopics than non-atopics became skin test positive to the allergen and more smokers than non-smokers were sensitised. The overall lung function of detergent workers showed 39 ml/year loss in FEV1 on the 11 year longitudinal study.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

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