Is the incidence of occupational asthma reduced by controlling exposure?


*** 2++ Reducing airborne exposure reduces the number of workers who become sensitised and who develop occupational asthma.

Evidence

Allmers H, Schmengler J, Skudlik C , Primary prevention of natural rubber latex allergy in the German health care system through education and intervention , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 2002 ; 110 : 318-23

Botham PA, Davies GE, Teasdale EL , Allergy to laboratory animals: a prospective study of its incidence and of the influence of atopy on its development , Br J Ind Med , 1987 ; 44 : 627-632

Cathcart M, Nicholson P, Roberts D, Bazley M, Juniper C, Murray P, Randell M , Enzyme exposure, smoking and lung function in employees in the detergent industry over 20 years. Medical Subcommittee of the UK Soap and Detergent Industry Association , Occup Med (London) , 1997 ; 47 : 473-478

Drexler H, Schaller KH, Nielsen J et al , Efficacy of measures of hygiene in workers sensitised to acid anhydrides and the influence of selection bias on the results , J Occup Environ Med , 1999 ; 56 : 202-205

Fisher R, Saunders WB, Murray SJ, Stave GM , Prevention of laboratory animal allergy , J Occup Environ Med , 1998 ; 40 : 609-613

Juniper CP, How MJ, Goodwin BFJ, Kinshott AK , Bacillus Subtilis Enzymes: a 7 year clinical, epidemiological and immunological study of an industrial allergen , J Soc Occup Med , 1977 ; 27 : 3-12

Levy D, Allouache S, Chabane MH et al , Powder-free protein-poor natural rubber latex gloves and latex sensitisation , JAMA , 1999 ; 281 : 988

Liss GM, Bernstein D, Genesove L et al , Assessment of risk factors for IgE-mediated sensitisation to tetrachlorophthalic anhydride , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 1993 ; 92 : 237-247

Tarlo SM, Easty A, Eubanks K et al , Outcomes of a natural rubber latex control program in an Ontario teaching hospital , J Allergy Clin Immunol , 2001 ; 108 : 623-633

Tarlo SM, Liss GM, Dias C et al , Assessment of the relationship between isocyanate exposure levels and occupational asthma , Am J Ind Med , 1997 ; 32 : 517-521

Principal reccomendations

This statement supports the following principal reccomendations

View the principal reccomendations

Employers should implement programmes to prevent (i.e. reduce the incidence) of occupational asthma by removing or reducing exposure to its causes through elimination or substitution and where this is not possible, by effective control of exposure.

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