Table 4

Specific exposure group frequencies and asthma risk estimates (univariate)

Cases/controls (n) OR (95% CI)4-150
n (total)172 / 285
High MW agents, combined15 / 201.4 (0.6 to 2.9)
 Animal danders2 / 3
 Fish or shellfish0 / 0
 Arthropods, mites0 / 1
 Latex9 / 111.5 (0.5 to 4.1)
 Flour1 / 3
 Other plant antigens0 / 0
 Bioaerosols5 / 42.3 (0.5 to 11.8)
 Enzymes1 / 3
Low MW agents, combined26 / 212.3 (1.2 to 4.4)
 Highly reactive chemicals17 / 122.6 (1.1 to 6.2)
 Isocyanates1 / 2
 Drugs4 / 3
 Industrial cleaning agents8 / 27.4 (1.4 to 71.7)
 Wood dusts1 / 2
 Metal sensitisers, fumes7 / 52.6 (0.7 to 10.5)
Mixed environments, combined14 / 122.1 (0.9 to 5.2)
 Metal working fluid environments4 / 3
 Agriculture2 / 2
 Textile production5 / 51.8 (0.4 to 8.1)
 Irritant peaks3 / 2
  • 4-150 ORs were calculated only for groups with five or more exposed cases and exact 95% CIs are shown. The reference category included other subjects not in any of the high risk categories (n=379).