Prevention of Work-related Asthma: Study Search Results

Study Details
Prevention LevelSecondary
AuthorMerget
Study Year1999
CountryGermany
Molecular Weight of AgentLMW
CategoryMetals
AgentPlatinum
OccupationPlatinum refinery workers (Includes cohort reported by Merget, 1994)
Outcome/DiagnosisOccupational asthma
Activity InterventionTransfer to low exposure area, removal from exposure (FU median: 54 months)
Participation Rate83 of 130 eligible subjects (Participation rate: 64%)
Intervention EffectivenessAsthma symptoms were reported by all subjects who continued exposure at follow-up (n=9), but were reported by only 37 of 74 subjects who transferred; no difference found between subjects who transferred within production area (n=16), subjects who transferred within plant (n=39), and subjects who left the plant (n=19). Total IgE was higher in those who continued expsosure compared to the other groups (p<0.002). Lung function and nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness were comparable between all the exposure groups.
Page last reviewed: May 25, 2022