Respiratory disorders and allergies in tea packers

The aim of this study was to determine whether respiratory symptoms or cros s-shift declines in lung function were related to occupational exposure to tea dust. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted at a tea-pa cking plant. Subjects completed a questionnaire, spirometry before and afte r a full work shift, skin prick testing and venipuncture. Among the 83% of the workers at the site who participated, the prevalences of asthma, wheezi ng, hay fever and atopy were similar to the general population. Work-relate d nasal symptoms were more commonly reported by blenders and operators. The re were six (3.2%) subjects with a cross-shift decline in the forced expira tory volume in 1 s of >10%. Specific immunoglobulin E antibodies to black o r chamomile tea were observed in 10 (5.6%) employees. As there was little e vidence of specific allergic sensitization to the tea varieties tested, the excess of work-related respiratory and nasal symptoms probably represented non-specific irritation.