THE RISK OF OCCUPATIONAL RHINITIS

Objective: Reports on the aetiology and risk of occupational rhinitis in different occupations are scarce. Method: The purpose of this study was to find the occupations with an increased risk of occupational rh initis. Age and gender differences in occupational rhinitis and occupa tional asthma were also compared, and the most common causes of occupa tional rhinitis were analysed. Design: This study covered the cases of occupational rhinitis and asthma reported to the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases during the years 1986-1991. The cases on the Reg ister were linked to the longitudinal census data file from the Finnis h censuses. Results: During 1986-1991, 1244 new cases of occupational rhinitis (747 women and 497 men) and 1867 new cases of occupational as thma (916 women and 951 men) were reported to the Register. Animal dan der, flours, wood dusts, textiles, phthalic acid anhydrides and storag e mites were important causes of occupational rhinitis. The highest re lative risk of occupational rhinitis was among furriers, the age-stand ardized rate ratio (SRR) was 30.0. Bakers and livestock breeders had a lso a markedly elevated relative risk (SRR = 22.0). Men had the highes t incidence of occupational rhinitis at the age of 25-29 years and amo ng women the incidence gradually increased and reached the peak in the group 40-44 years of age. Conclusion: Furriers, bakers, and livestock breeders had the most elevated relative risk of occupational rhinitis . Occupational rhinitis cases appeared at a younger age than asthma, s uggesting that rhinitis often precedes asthma.