Prevention of Work-related Asthma: Study Search Results

Study Details

Prevention Level	Primary
Author	Cathcart
Study Year	1997
Country	UK
Molecular Weight of Agent	HMW
Category	Biological enzyme
Agent	Detergent enzyme
Occupation	Detergent industry workers (Includes cohort reported by Flindt, 1969 and Juniper, 1977)
Outcome/Diagnosis	Occupational asthma
Activity Intervention	Encapsulation of enzyme, atmospheric dust and enzyme monitoring, and health surveillance according to SDIA guidelines (1969) Health surveillance was biannual during first two years of employment and annual thereafter. Health surveillance included: relevant symptoms since last examination, smoking history, assessment of lung function. Both skin-prick test and chest radiograph were largely withdrawn as exclusion criteria (1980's) where pre-employment exclusion now relies on clinical judgement of the physician.
Participation Rate	A total of 731 workers subject to respiratory health surveillance Limitation: no report of participation rate
Intervention Effectiveness	Average workplace enzyme level dropped from 100.0 ng enzyme/m3 air in 1969 to approximately 1.0 ng enzyme/m3 air in 1976 staying roughly stable through 1993 (below SDIA guidelines). Compared to 144 OA cases that occurred from 1969-1975, 22 cases of OA occurred from 1976-1993. Declines in FEV1 and FVC were not associated with enzyme exposure.