Background Systematic research on occupation or industry-specific incidence
of occupational asthma (OA) is sparse. We calculated the incidence of noti
fied OA by occupation, industry and causative agent in Finland for the year
ns 1989-95.
Methods The numbers of cases of reported OA were retrieved from the Finnish
Registry of Occupational Diseases for the population between 20 and 64 yea
rs of age. The numbers of employed workers were retrieved from Statistics F
inland. Incidence races were calculated for each occupation, industry and t
he total workforce.
Results Altogether 2602 cases of OA were notified and the mean annual incid
ence rate was 17.4 cases/100, 000 employed workers. The incidence rare was
the highest in bakers, other painters and lacquerers, veterinary surgeons,
chemical workers, farmers, animal husbandry workers, other food manufacturi
ng workers, welders, plastic product workers, butchers and sausage makers,
and floor layers. Cases caused by animal epithelia, hairs and secretions or
flours, grains, and fodders accounted for 60% of the total.
Conclusions Estimation of occupation and industry-specific incidence rates
forms the basis for successful prevention of OA, but necessitates collectio
n of data over several years from well-established surveillance systems. Am
. J. Ind. Med. 37.451-458, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.