Occupational Asthma and Its Causation in the UK Seafood Processing Industry.

OBJECTIVES: The processing of seafood (fish and shellfish) for human consumption can lead to health consequences, including occupational asthma (OA). Several non-UK studies have reported both respiratory outcomes and airborne levels of major allergens in seafood processing. However, there is a paucity of such evidence in the UK land-based seafood processing sector, which employs some 20 000 workers. METHODS: University of Manchester's Surveillance of Work-related and Occupational Respiratory Disease (SWORD) reporting system has been interrogated over the period 1992-2017 to define the incidence rate of OA cases that can be ascribed to the UK land-based processing sector, and the seafood species implicated. Airborne allergen monitoring data undertaken at Health and Safety Executive's laboratory from 2003 to 2019 have also been collated. RESULTS: The estimated annual OA incidence rate in seafood processors was 70 [95% confidence intervals (CIs) 48.9, 91.1] per 100 000 workers compared with 2.9 (95% CIs 2.8, 3.1) in 'all other industries'. The annual calculated percentage trend in OA (1992-2017) was -8.1% (95% CIs -15.9, 0.4) in seafood processing showing a similar trend to 'all other industries' (mean -7.0%; 95% CIs -7.8, -6.1). Prawns and salmon/trout were notably implicated by SWORD as causative species related to OA. There is a general paucity of available UK airborne allergen monitoring data, particularly concerning processing salmon or trout. Available airborne monitoring for salmon parvalbumin in seven processors ranged between the limit of detection and 816 ng m-3 (n = 64). Available air monitoring levels of the major shellfish allergen (tropomyosin) during processing of crabs and prawns ranged between 1 and 101 600 ng m-3 (n = 280), highlighting that high levels of exposure can occur. CONCLUSIONS: These data show an excess incidence of OA in the UK seafood processing industry during 1992-2017, with limited airborne monitoring data for the processing of prawn, crab, and salmon suggesting that significant exposure to major seafood allergens can occur in this industry. Further investigation of current levels of respiratory ill-health and the sources of allergen exposure are warranted.

The development of methods to measure exposure to a major rabbit allergen (Ory c 1).

Rabbits are used as laboratory animal models and are also popular domestic pets. Allergic responses to rabbit allergens have been documented in both settings, and several rabbit allergens identified. We have purified an 18 kD protein extracted from rabbit fur that was shown by N-terminal sequencing and mass spectrometry (MS) to be a lipocalin, identical to that identified as an odorant binding protein and an allergen with the formal nomenclature of Ory c 1. De novo sequencing of the MS peptide fragments gave additional primary sequence data of this protein. Polyclonal antisera were raised against the purified protein and used to develop two types of immunoassay. Ory c 1 content was measured in used rabbit bedding and household dust samples from homes keeping rabbits as pets. Atmospheric sampling was also undertaken in an animal facility undertaking rabbit experimental work. Ory c 1 levels in house dust where rabbits were kept as pets were between undetectable-41,290 ng·g-1, and in used bedding between 370-26,740 ng·g-1. Significantly higher house dust levels were found where rabbits spent large amounts, or all of, their time indoors. Personal air sampler levels within the animal facility were between 65-216 ng·m-3. Low levels (0.8-2 ng·m-3) were found in the facility's changing rooms, but undetected in the entrance lobby, office and laundry. We believe that these immunochemical assays may be used to identify activities in the occupational and domestic setting which produce higher levels of exposure to rabbit allergens, and where measures to control exposure may be warranted to reduce potential risk of allergic outcomes.

Levels of house dust mite allergen in cars.

This small study investigated house dust mite (HDM) allergen levels in cars and their owners' homes in north-east Scotland. Dust samples from twelve households and cars were collected in a standardised manner. The dust samples were extracted and measured for the Dermatophagoides group 2 allergens (Der p 2 and Der f 2) and total soluble protein. Allergen levels at homes tended to be higher than in the cars, but not significantly. However, they significantly correlated with paired car dust samples expressed either per unit weight of dust or soluble protein (rho=0.657; p=0.02 and 0.769; p=0.003, respectively). This points to house-to-car allergen transfer, with the car allergen levels largely reflecting levels in the owner's home. Car HDM allergen levels were lower than those reported in Brazil and the USA. Twenty-five percent of the houses and none of the cars had allergen levels in dust greater than 2000 ng g(-1). This value is often quoted as a threshold for the risk of sensitisation, although a number of studies report increased risk of sensitisation at lower levels. This small study does not allow for characterisation of the distribution of HDM allergen in vehicles in this geographic area, or of the likely levels in other warmer and more humid areas of the UK. Cars and other vehicles are an under-investigated micro-environment for exposure to allergenic material.

Relative Performance of Frequency Weighting W(h) and Candidates for Alternative Frequency Weightings for Predicting the Occurrence of Hand-transmitted Vibration-induced Injuries.

Exposure to hand-transmitted vibration is usually assessed according to International Standard ISO 5349-1:2001 using the frequency weighting W(h). This paper compares eight frequency weightings that might be used to supplement or replace W(h). The comparison is based on a data from two databases, one containing over 7200 measured hand-arm vibration (HAV) spectra from a wide range of industrial machines the other recording exposure history and injury for workers referred to the Health and Safety Laboratory. Acceleration spectra from the machinery database are analysed to give weighted values for the alternative frequency weightings. These weighted values are compared and then used to estimate a set of alternative lifetime vibration dose values for subjects in the referral database. Statistical comparison of these lifetime dose values against assessments of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and sensorineural HAVS prevalence suggests that values based the two weightings W(h) and W(h50lp) (the W(h) weighing low-pass filtered at 50 Hz) provide the strongest indicators for developing these injuries. For vascular HAVS there was no clear evidence to advocate any individual frequency weighting. For all injury categories the strongest relationships were for the first power of acceleration magnitude.

Occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs in two UK oncology wards.

AIMS: To investigate the potential exposure to cytotoxic drugs of staff on two oncology wards in a large district, UK hospital under normal working conditions. METHODS: Cytotoxic drug exposure was monitored in urine samples, surface wipes, and on disposable gloves by using a number of commonly used marker drugs, namely cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, methotrexate, and the platino coordinated drugs. Questionnaire data on their work practices, potential exposure, use of protective personal equipment, and relevant training were collected from nursing, domestic, and clerical staff on two oncology wards. RESULTS: The majority of staff were female with a mean age of 31 years. Roughly half of the staff studied were specifically trained nurses with an average of 3.5 years experience of administering cytotoxic drugs. No cytotoxic drug preparation or reconstitution was carried out on the wards. Disposable gloves, plastic armlets and aprons, but not eye protection, were invariably worn where there was potential exposure to cytotoxics. No cytotoxic drug was detected in any of the staff's urine samples. Isolated disposable latex gloves from nurses administering drugs showed some contamination, as did some surfaces within the wards' sluice rooms, but not in the ward areas where the drugs were stored and checked prior to administration. CONCLUSIONS: The risk management strategies in place, including use of personal protective equipment, staff training, and other organisational measures, have ensured that internal exposure is lower than the detection limits for the current biological monitoring methods. Levels of contamination appear significantly lower than earlier, non-UK published studies where different risk management strategies were in place and, in particular, ward staff may have been involved in some degree of cytotoxic drug reconstitution.