Sensitisation to common allergens and respiratory symptoms in endotoxin exposed workers: a pooled analysis

I. Basinas, V. Schlünssen, D. Heederik, T. Sigsgaard, L.A. Smit, S. Samadi, O. Omland, C. Hjort, A.M. Madsen, S. Skov, I.M. Wouters

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: To test the hypotheses that current endotoxin exposure is inversely associated with allergic sensitisation and positively associated with non-allergic respiratory diseases in four occupationally exposed populations using a standardised analytical approach. METHODS: Data were pooled from four epidemiological studies including 3883 Dutch and Danish employees in veterinary medicine, agriculture and power plants using biofuel. Endotoxin exposure was estimated by quantitative job-exposure matrices specific for the study populations. Dose-response relationships between exposure, IgE-mediated sensitisation to common allergens and self-reported health symptoms were assessed using logistic regression and generalised additive modelling. Adjustments were made for study, age, sex, atopic predisposition, smoking habit and farm childhood. Heterogeneity was assessed by analysis stratified by study. RESULTS: Current endotoxin exposure was dose-dependently associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic sensitisation (ORs of 0.92, 0.81 and 0.66 for low mediate, high mediate and high exposure) and hay fever (ORs of 1.16, 0.81 and 0.58). Endotoxin exposure was a risk factor for organic dust toxic syndrome, and levels above 100 EU/m(3) significantly increased the risk of chronic bronchitis (p
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)99-106
    Number of pages8
    JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine
    Volume69
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012

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