The Relationship Between Potential Occupational Sensitizing Exposures and Asthma: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Annett Dalbøge*, Henrik Albert Kolstad, Charlotte Suppli Ulrik, David Lee Sherson, Harald William Meyer, Niels Ebbehøj, Torben Sigsgaard, Jan-Paul Zock, Xaver Baur, Vivi Schlünssen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperReviewResearchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to identify, appraise, and synthesize the scientific evidence of the relationship between potential occupational sensitizing exposures and the development of asthma based on systematic reviews.

METHODS: The study was conducted as an overview of systematic reviews. A systematic literature search was conducted for systematic reviews published up to 9 February 2020. Eligibility study criteria included persons in or above the working age, potential occupational sensitizing exposures, and outcomes defined as asthma. Potential occupational sensitizing exposures were divided into 23 main groups comprising both subgroups and specific exposures. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted study data, assessed study quality, and evaluated confidence in study results and level of evidence of the relationship between potential occupational sensitizing exposures and asthma.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven systematic reviews were included covering 1242 studies and 486 potential occupational sensitizing exposures. Overall confidence in study results was rated high in three systematic reviews, moderate in seven reviews, and low in 17 reviews. Strong evidence for the main group of wood dusts and moderate evidence for main groups of mites and fish was found. For subgroups/specific exposures, strong evidence was found for toluene diisocyanates, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and work tasks involving exposure to laboratory animals, whereas moderate evidence was found for 52 subgroups/specific exposures.

CONCLUSIONS: This overview identified hundreds of potential occupational sensitizing exposures suspected to cause asthma and evaluated the level of evidence for each exposure. Strong evidence was found for wood dust in general and for toluene diisocyanates, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and work tasks involving exposure to laboratory animals.

Original languageEnglish
Journal Annals of Work Exposures and Health
Volume67
Issue2
Pages (from-to)163-181
Number of pages19
ISSN2398-7308
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Allergen
  • allergy
  • lung disease
  • respiratory symptom
  • work
  • Animals
  • Wood
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Systematic Reviews as Topic
  • Asthma/epidemiology
  • Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate

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