Allergic respiratory disease in grain workers: the role of storage mites

Abstract

One hundred thirty-three grain-store workers employed at a regional grain store in Essex, U.K., participated in a survey of respiratory symptoms, lung function, bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and skin tests, and specific IgE to occupational allergens, including extracts of five storage-mite (SM) species and grain extracts. Previously reported associations between occupational respiratory symptoms and cigarette smoking, and symptoms of bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine were confirmed. This study also disclosed significant associations between work-related symptoms (WRS) and positive skin tests and/or specific IgE to SMs, but not between WRSs and positive skin tests or specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, or between WRSs and positive skin tests to grain. These findings suggest that in United Kingdom grain workers, allergic responses to SMs may be another factor responsible for WRSs in grain-store workers.