Nasal symptoms among workers exposed to soft paper dust

Objectives: To clarify whether occupational exposure to paper-dust is assoc iated with an increased risk of non-infectious rhinitis. Methods: Thirty-se ven workers exposed to paper-dust in a soft-paper mill were compared with 3 6 unexposed controls. The study was performed under normal working conditio ns during the non-pollen season. Medical and occupational history was taken down in a comprehensive questionnaire and nasal symptoms were scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Pulmonary and nasal function was assessed by s pirometry, acoustic rhinometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow. Nasal lavag e was analysed for interleukin-8 (IL-8) and nasal transit time was monitore d with the saccharine test. Concentrations of inhalable dust for each expos ed subject during the day of the clinical study were measured with personal sampling devices. Results: There was an increased prevalence of nasal bloc kage and crust formation among the exposed workers. However, there was no d ifference with regard to acoustic rhinometry, nasal transit time or nasal p eak inspiratory flow. In the whole population, IL-8 in nasal lavage was hig her among men than among women, 193 ng/l vs 132 ng/l, P = 0.006. There was also a positive trend (P = 0.01) with increasing nasal IL-8 going from non- smokers (122 ng/l), ex-smokers (126 ng/l) to current smokers (235 ng/l). Co nclusions: We have found that occupational exposure to paper-dust is associ ated with symptoms of nasal blockage and nasal crusting. We find no objecti ve signs of nasal inflammation, even among the subgroup with the highest cu rrent exposure.