Table 6

Variation of the distribution of cases of occupational asthma, by sex, suspected causal agents, and occupation over the observation period

1996199719981999
n (%)n (%)n (%)n (%)
Total487 (100.0)546 (100.0)540 (100.0)605 (100.0)
Female152 (31.2)195 (35.7)204 (37.8)252 (44.7)
Agent
    Flour107 (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 makers100 (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)