Page 1 Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171 Evaluation of Sensitization and Exposure to Flour Dust, Spices, and Other Ingredients Among Poultry Breading Workers Report No. 2009-0131-3171 April 2013 Elena H

Page 6

Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171

Sensitization to flour dust and wheat was significantly higher among participants who 

reported either a current or past job in the higher-exposure group than those who never had 

a job in the higher-exposure group (Table 5). The prevalences of sensitization to corn, garlic, 

and onion were almost twice as high among participants who reported either a current or 

past job in the higher-exposure group than among those who never had a job in the higher-

exposure group, but these were not statistically significant. Of participants in the lower-

exposure group, 15% were sensitized to wheat (Table 5).

Table 4. Prevalence of work-related symptoms in the last 12 months* by current and/or past 

exposure group

Work-related symptom

Higher-exposure group

(either current or past)

n=249–252†

Number (%)

Lower-exposure group

n=120–121†

Number (%)

Prevalence ratio

(95% confidence 

interval)

Episodes of coughing

59 (24)

22 (18)

1.25 (0.82, 1.99)‡

Asthma symptoms§

83 (33)

25 (21)

1.61 (1.11, 2.45)‡

Wheezing or whistling in 

chest

61 (24)

11 (9)

2.65 (1.52, 5.16)‡

Woken up with feeling of 

tightness in the chest

35 (14)

11 (9)

1.52 (0.83, 3.04)‡

Attack of asthma

20 (8)

2 (2)

4.62 (1.38, 28.64)‡

Currently taking medicine 

for breathing problems or 

asthma

32 (13)

8 (7)

1.93 (0.97, 4.39)‡

Rhinitis symptoms

Problem with sneezing 

or a runny nose or a 

blocked nose when did 

not have a cold or flu

99 (39)

36 (30)

1.33 (0.97, 1.81)

Rhinoconjunctivitis 

symptoms

Rhinitis symptoms 

accompanied by itchy 

watery eyes

72 (29)

24 (20)

1.46 (0.97, 2.19)

*Or since beginning current job if in that job for less than 12 months 

†Denominators vary because of missing information

‡Controlled for smoking status 

§Work-related asthma symptoms based upon a positive answer to one or more of four questions 

below it in table

---

Page 7

Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171

The prevalences of work-related asthma symptoms were significantly higher in participants 

sensitized to flour dust, wheat, corn, or onion but not to soy, garlic, or paprika, than in those 

who were not sensitized (Tables 6, 7, 8, and 9). Participants sensitized to flour dust, wheat, 

or corn were significantly more likely to report having had an asthma attack in the last 12 

months and to be currently taking medicine for asthma or breathing problems (Tables 6, 7, 8, 

and 9). Work-related episodes of coughing were common regardless of whether participants 

were sensitized. The prevalence of work-related allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis 

symptoms did not differ significantly between those sensitized and those not sensitized to any 

of the tested allergens.

Table 5. Prevalence of sensitization to breading dust allergens by current or past exposure group

Presence of IgE 

specific to:

Allergen

Higher-exposure group

(either current or past)

n=166

Number (%)

Lower-exposure group

n=74

Number (%)

Prevalence ratio

(95% confidence 

interval)

Flour dust

54 (33)

10 (14)

2.41 (1.30, 4.46)

Wheat

60 (36)

11 (15)

2.43 (1.36, 4.35)

Soybean

21 (13)

7 (9)

1.34 (0.59, 3.01)

Garlic

28 (17)

7 (9)

1.78 (0.82, 3.90)

Paprika

12 (7)

5 (7)

1.07 (0.39, 2.93)

Onion

22 (13)

5 (7)

1.96 (0.77, 4.98)

Corn

38 (23)

9 (12)

1.88 (0.96, 3.69)

---

Page 8

Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171

Table 6. Prevalence of work-related symptoms among employees sensitized and not sensitized to 

flour dust and wheat 

Work-related symptoms

Sensitized to flour dust

Sensitized to wheat

No

Yes

P 

value

No

Yes

P 

value

n=175–176*

Number (%)

n=64–66*

Number 

(%)

n=168–169*

Number (%)

n=71–73*

Number 

(%)

Episodes of coughing

46 (26)

18 (27)

0.88

44 (26)

20 (27)

0.85

Asthma symptoms†

55 (31)

32 (48)

0.01

52 (31)

35 (48)

0.01

Wheezing or whistling 

in chest

38 (22)

26 (39)

<0.01

34 (20)

30 (41)

<0.01

Woken up with feeling 

of tightness in the chest

23 (13)

10 (15)

0.67

21 (12)

12 (16)

0.40

Attack of asthma  

9 (5)

11 (17)

<0.01

7 (4)

13 (18)

<0.01

Currently taking 

medicine for breathing 

problems or asthma

16 (9)

19 (29)

<0.01

16 (10)

19 (26)

<0.01

Rhinitis symptoms

Problem with sneezing 

or a runny nose or a 

blocked nose when did 

not have a cold or flu

78 (44)

34 (52)

0.32

73 (43)

39 (53)

0.14

Rhinoconjunctivitis 

symptoms

Rhinitis symptoms 

accompanied by itchy 

watery eyes

56 (32)

25 (39)

0.29

53 (31)

28 (39)

0.23

*Denominators vary because of missing information

†Work-related asthma symptoms based upon a positive answer to one or more of four questions 

below it in table

---