Aeroallergens and work-related respiratory symptoms among office workers

Abstract

Objective: We sought to determine the association between office workers' respiratory tract symptoms and immediate skin test reactions with exposure to fungal and house dust mite aeroallergens at their work sites. Methods: An initial prevalence survey was conducted among 1102 full-time workers in six mechanically ventilated, air-conditioned, nonindustrial buildings in downtown Montreal. Detailed environmental measures of 214 subjects' work sites were determined. Half of the workers reported frequent work-related respiratory tract symptoms on the initial survey. Participants simultaneously underwent allergy skin prick testing and completed a second self-administered questionnaire. Results: Contaminant levels were low and not associated with symptoms in the great majority of workers. For approximately 17% of workers, symptoms were associated with exposure to total concentrations of house dust mite allergen greater than 1 μg/gm floor dust (odds ratio [OR], 5.0; 95% confidence interval [ CI], 1.3, 19.5]) or to detectable airborne Alternaria allergens in their offices (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.2, 9.4) and in the ventilation system supplying their offices (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.6, 9.6). Workers with positive skin test reactions to Alternaria extract were exposed at their work site to airborne Alternaria allergen (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.4, 14.5) and cited significantly more respiratory symptoms on both questionnaires. Detection of airborne Alternaria allergen at work sites was significantly associated with detection in the ventilation system (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4,10.9); this was in turn associated with lower efficiency filters. Conclusions: Potentially avoidable exposure to aeroallergens accounted for symptoms in a small subgroup of office workers with frequent work-related respiratory tract symptoms. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;101:38-44.)