Respiratory allergies on the staff of the police force

The aim of the study was to evaluate respiratory allergies of an occupation al nature in the staff of the police force. Five hundred and eighty-five su bjects were submitted for lung function tests by dynamic spirometry. Subjec ts with a history of respiratory symptoms and border line respiratory funct ion underwent bronchial provocation tests with methacholine. If FEV1 was < 80%, a bronchial reversibility test was performed. Allergic tests (skin and RAST) for inhalating allergens (perennial, seasonal and occupational) were performed. The results suggested asthmatic symptoms in 57 subjects, eight of whom were positive to skin and RAST tests for occupational inhalating al lergens. Among these eight subjects, three had FEV1 < 80% of the theoretica l value without therapy, and five showed obstruction of small caliber airwa ys (MEF 25, MEF 50, FEF 25-75 < 65% of the theoretical value). The analysis showed a low percentage of respiratory occupational allergies. Among 21 su bjects positive to Dermatophagoides, seven worked as archivists. In these w orkers, a concomitant occupational cause for the symptomatological and func tional pattern was established. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.