Smoking doubles the risk of occupational asthma from enzyme manufacture

A study of manufacturers of a mixed (and unspecified) group of enzymes studied prospectively. The incidence of sensitisation and disease was measured for the first 3 years of exposure only. The incidence for sensitisation was 0.13/person year at risk and for disease (asthma, rhinitis or urticaria) 0.03/person year at risk. There was no relationship betweem measured exposure and incidence, but incidence reduced over time (1970-2002), during which time more atopics were employed. Atopy was a risk factor for sensitisation but not disease, smoking was a risk factor for disease and sensitisation (x2). It is likely that the air measurement did not fully represent exposures, and that the initial exclusion of atopics was a confouding factor. Within the first 3 years 10-5% developed disease (decreasing over time); of those with disease 55% had asthma.

References

	Larsen AI, Johnsen CR, Frickmann J, Mikkelsen S, Incidence of respiratory sensitisation and allergy to enzymes among employees in an enzyme producing plant and the relation to exposure and host factors , Occup Environ Med, 2007;64:763-768,

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