Determinants of occupational allergic respiratory disease and asthma in spice mill workers

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-100).The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occupational allergy and asthma associated with airborne spice and to determine the host and environmental risk factors associated with allergic respiratory disease among spice mill workers. A cross-sectional epidemiological study of 150 currently employed workers in a spice mill was conducted. Environmental exposure assessment entailed the collection of 62 full-shift airborne personal samples on randomly selected individuals employed in various departments of the spice mill using the NIOSH occupational exposure sampling strategy manual. The samples were analysed for inhalable particulate mass, specific spice dust allergens (garlic) and endotoxin using ELISA inhibition (antibodies from sensitised subjects) and chromogenic LAL assays