Table 6
Variation of the distribution of cases of occupational asthma, by sex, suspected causal agents, and occupation over the observation period
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Total | 487 (100.0) | 546 (100.0) | 540 (100.0) | 605 (100.0) |
| Female | 152 (31.2) | 195 (35.7) | 204 (37.8) | 252 (44.7) |
| Agent | ||||
| Flour | 107 (20.4) | 127 (22.6) | 127 (21.2) | 117 (17.6) |
| Isocyanates | 85 (16.1) | 89 (15.8) | 72 (12.1) | 87 (13.1) |
| Latex | 27 (5.1) | 41 (7.3) | 41 (6.9) | 60 (9.0) |
| Aldehydes | 34 (5.1) | 30 (5.3) | 39 (6.5) | 37 (5.6) |
| Persulphate salts | 26 (5.0) | 23 (4.1) | 40 (6.7) | 48 (7.2) |
| Wood dusts | 23 (4.4) | 21 (3.7) | 17 (2.8) | 26 (3.9) |
| Occupation | ||||
| Bakers and pastry makers | 100 (20.5) | 128 (23.4) | 108 (20.0) | 105 (17.4) |
| Health workers | 39 (8.0) | 60 (11.0) | 64 (11.9) | 64 (10.6) |
| Painters | 53 (10.9) | 44 (8.1) | 37 (6.8) | 43 (7.1) |
| Hairdressers | 27 (5.5) | 27 (4.9) | 43 (8.0) | 52 (8.6) |
| Wood workers | 27 (5.5) | 27 (4.9) | 27 (4.9) | 31 (5.1) |
