A. Siracusa et al., PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF ASTHMA IN WORKING GROUPS IN BRITISH-COLUMBIA, American journal of industrial medicine, 28(3), 1995, pp. 411-423
We evaluated the prevalence of asthma and its predictors in studies of
several male working groups: 619 cedar sawmill, 724 grain elevator, 3
99 pulpmill, 798 aluminum smelter, and 1,127 unexposed workers. These
workers had taken part in health studies for assessment of chronic res
piratory effects of various workplace exposures between 1979 and 1982.
The American Thoracic Society Adult Questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78) was us
ed for these studies. Allergy skin tests were also performed. The part
icipation rates were > 80%. The overall prevalance of physician-diagno
sed asthma was 4.6%, and current asthma 3%. The prevalence of asthma a
fter employment in the current industry, as a surrogate for work-relat
ed asthma, was 3.9 times higher in cedar sawmill workers, 2.2 times hi
gher in pulpmill and aluminum smelter workers, and 1.7 times higher in
grain elevator workers compared with unexposed workers. Atopy and a p
ositive parental history of asthma, but not smoking, were important ri
sk factors for asthma before the onset of first employment. Also, for
asthma after employment in the current industry, atopy and a positive
parental history of asthma were important risk factors. Smoking was as
sociated with a significant reduction in the risk for asthma after emp
loyment in the current industry. Within specific work groups, the prev
alence of atopy was significantly higher among pulpmill workers with a
sthma after employment in current industry than those without asthma.
Conversely, cedar sawmill workers who had asthma after employment in t
he current industry were nonatopic and nonsmokers. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss
, Inc.