�It has previously been claimed that working as a baker involves, as a
consequence, a great risk of evolving allergy and respiratory symptoms.
The basis for this assumption was based on cross-section studies.
In this subject field, undertaken by Tina Skjodt (Aarhus University Hospital,
Aarhus, Denmark) and her team, bakers' apprentices were followed
prospectively for three years to make up one's mind the sequence by which
allergy, asthma and hypersensitised rhinitis evolved.
An extensive panel of common and occupational allergens was used for
steady testing.
Surprisingly, only a few bakers' apprentices became sensitised to
occupational allergens, whereas the occurrence of new respiratory
symptoms was high. The development of new symptoms was associated
with the duration of exposure.
Thus, the study points toward mechanisms other than allergy as being
responsible for respiratory symptoms among bakers' apprentices.
Title of Original Article
The incidence of respiratory symptoms and sensitisation in baker apprentices
European Respiratory Journal (Erj), Vol. 32, No 2
The European Respiratory Journal is the peer-reviewed scientific
publication of the European Respiratory Society (more than 8,000
specialists in lung diseases and respiratory medicine in Europe, the
United States and Australia).
European Respiratory Journal
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