When are symptoms of occupational asthma most likely to develop?

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2+

Sensitisation and occupational asthma are most likely to develop in the first years of exposure for workers exposed to enzymes, complex platinum salts, isocyanates and laboratory animal allergens.

Evidence

Agrup G, Belin L, Sjostedt L et al , Allergy to laboratory animals in laboratory technicians and animal keepers , Br J Ind Med , 1986 ; 43 : 192-198

Calverley AE, Rees D, Dowdeswell RJ et al , Platinum salt sensitivity in refinery workers: incidence and effects of smoking and exposure , Occup Environ Med , 1995 ; 52 : 661-666

Cullinan P, Cook A, Gordon S, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Tee RD, Venables KM, McDonald JC, Newman Taylor AJ , Allergen exposure, atopy and smoking as determinants of allergy to rats in a cohort of laboratory employees , Eur Respir J , 1999 ; 13 : 1139-1143

Gautrin D, Ghezzo H, InfanteRivard C et al , Natural history of sensitisation, symptoms and occupational diseases in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals , Eur Respir J , 2001 ; 17 : 904-908

Gautrin D, InfanteRivard C, Ghezzo H et al , Incidence and host determinants of probable occupational asthma in apprentices exposed to laboratory animals , Am J Respir Crit Care Med , 2001 ; 163 : 899-904

Johnsen CR, Sorensen TB, Ingemann Larsen A et al , Allergy risk in an enzyme producing plant: a retrospective follow up study , J Occup Environ Med , 1997 ; 54 : 671-675

Krakowiak A, Szulc B, Gorski P , Occupational respiratory diseases in laboratory animal workers; initial results , Int J Occup Med Environ Health , 1997 ; 10 : 31-36

Niezborala M, Garnier R , Allergy to complex platinum salts: A historical prospective cohort study , Occup Environ Med , 1996 ; 53 : 525-257

PlattsMills TAE, Longbottom J, Edwards J, Cockcroft A, Wilkins S , Occupational asthma and rhinitis related to laboratory rats: serum IgG and IgE antibodies to the rat urinary allergen , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 1987 ; 79 : 505-515

Slovak AJ , Occupational asthma caused by a plastics blowing agent, azodicarbonamide , Thorax , 1981 ; 36 : 906-909

Venables KM, Dally MB, Nunn AJ et al , Smoking and occupational allergy in workers in a platinum refinery , Br Med J , 1989 ; 299 : 939-942