Prevention of baker's asthma.

Abstract

Baker's allergy and asthma continue to represent an important contributor of occupational asthma globally. This review identified recent studies related to the prevention of baker's allergy and asthma. Studies with respect to regulatory exposure standards, workplace control measures aimed at reduction of flour dust exposures, surveillance programmes (exposure monitoring, medical surveillance) and workplace information, education and training programmes were identified. Detailed knowledge on risk factors and detection methods to assess exposure and early identification of high-risk workers exist, but workplace control measures remain sub-optimal because they are rarely multifaceted. This is compounded by the lack of health-based exposure standards globally. Exposure level monitoring and medical surveillance are integral to assessing effectiveness of preventive strategies. Triage systems for optimizing the efficiency of medical surveillance programmes show promise, but need replication in different contexts. Future studies need to focus on evaluating the relevance and quantification of peak exposures in increasing risk; developing standardized respiratory questionnaires for medical surveillance; and further exploration of serial fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements as an adjunct to allergic sensitization for the early identification of baker's asthma and assessing the long-term impact of interventions.