You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Workplace
Original article
Sensitisation to cereal flour allergens is a major determinant of elevated exhaled nitric oxide in bakers
  1. Roslynn Baatjies1,2,
  2. Mohamed Fareed Jeebhay2
  1. 1Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
  2. 2Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to Professor Mohamed Fareed Jeebhay, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Room 4.47, Fourth Level, Falmouth Building, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; Mohamed.Jeebhay{at}uct.ac.za

Abstract

Objective Various studies of the usefulness of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in occupational settings remain inconclusive. The objective was to investigate the determinants of increased FeNO in bakery workers.

Methods A cross-sectional study of 424 supermarket bakery workers used a questionnaire and serum specific IgE to wheat, rye and α-amylase. FeNO during the work shift were assessed using a hand-held portable sampling device (NIOX MINO).

Results The median FeNO was 15 ppb, in atopics 21 ppb and current smokers 12 ppb. Increased FeNO was strongly associated with IgE to wheat independent of smoking and atopy status. In the multivariate model, IgE to wheat, current smoking, atopy and age were significantly associated with FeNO. Stratified analysis in a subgroup of atopic non-smokers demonstrated the strongest relationship between FeNO and various clinical endpoint such as wheat (OR=9.43) or rye (OR=11.76) sensitisation, work-related allergic rhinitis (OR=8.13) or asthma (OR=5.44), and probable baker's asthma (OR=6.72).

Conclusions Sensitisation to cereal flour allergens rather than asthma symptoms is a major determinant of elevated FeNO among bakers. This relationship is modified by atopy and current smoking status.

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2012-100990

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text