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 9

Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171

Table 7. Prevalence of work-related symptoms among employees sensitized and not sensitized to 

corn and soy 

Work-related symptoms

Sensitized to corn

Sensitized to soy

No

Yes

P 

value

No

Yes

P 

value

n=193–194*

Number (%)

n=46–48*

Number 

(%)

n=212–213*

Number (%)

n=27–29*

Number 

(%)

Episodes of coughing

51 (26)

13 (27)

0.93 57 (27)

7 (24)

0.75

Asthma symptoms†

62 (32)

25 (52)

0.01 74 (34)

13 (46)

0.23

Wheezing or whistling 

in chest

43 (22)

21 (44)

<0.01 53 (25)

11 (38)

0.14

Woken up with feeling 

of tightness in the chest

26 (13)

7 (15)

0.83 30 (14)

3 (10)

0.78

Attack of asthma 

11 (6)

9 (19)

<0.01

18 (8)

2 (7)

1.00

Currently taking 

medicine for breathing 

problems or asthma

23 (12)

12 (25)

0.02 30 (14)

5 (18)

0.57

Rhinitis symptoms

Problem with sneezing 

or a runny nose or a 

blocked nose when did 

not have a cold or flu

91 (47)

21 (44)

0.69 98 (46)

14 (48)

0.82

Rhinoconjunctivitis 

symptoms

Rhinitis symptoms 

accompanied by itchy 

watery eyes

67 (35)

14 (30)

0.60 75 (35)

6 (22)

0.18

*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

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Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171

Table 8. Prevalence of work-related symptoms among employees sensitized and not sensitized to 

garlic and onion

Work-related symptoms

Sensitized to garlic

Sensitized to onion

No

Yes

P 

value

No

Yes

P 

value

n=205–206* 

Number (%)

n=34–36* 

Number 

(%)

n=213–214* 

Number (%)

n=26–28* 

Number 

(%)

Episodes of coughing

52 (25)

12 (33)

0.32

55 (26)

9 (32)

0.48

Asthma symptoms†

72 (35)

15 (42)

0.45

72 (34)

15 (54)

0.04

Wheezing or whistling 

in chest

51 (25)

13 (36)

0.16

52 (24)

12 (43)

0.04

Woken up with feeling 

of tightness in the chest

28 (14)

5 (14)

1.00

29 (14)

4 (14)

1.00

Attack of asthma

16 (8)

4 (11)

0.51

15 (7)

5 (18)

0.06

Currently taking 

medicine for breathing 

problems or asthma

28 (14)

7 (19)

0.36

28 (13)

7 (25)

0.15

Rhinitis symptoms

Problem with sneezing 

or a runny nose or a 

blocked nose when did 

not have a cold or flu

95 (46)

17 (47)

0.90

99 (46)

13 (46)

0.99

Rhinoconjunctivitis 

symptoms

Rhinitis symptoms 

ccompanied by itchy 

watery eyes

73 (35)

8 (24)

0.17

74 (35)

7 (27)

0.44

*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

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Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2009-0131-3171

We found no significant difference in the prevalence of atopy between groups. Atopics were 

significantly more likely to be sensitized to all allergens tested (Table 10).

Table 9. Prevalence of work-related symptoms among employees sensitized and not sensitized to 

paprika

Work-related symptoms

Sensitized to paprika

No

Yes

P value

n=223–224*

Number (%)

n=16–18*

Number (%)

Episodes of coughing

61 (27)

3 (17)

0.41

Asthma symptoms†

78 (35)

9 (50)

0.20

Wheezing or whistling in chest

57 (26)

7 (39)

0.27

Woken up with feeling of tightness in the chest

31 (14)

2 (11)

1.00

Attack of asthma‡

18 (8)

2 (11)

0.65

Currently taking medicine for breathing 

problems or asthma

32 (14)

3 (17)

0.73

Rhinitis symptoms

Problem with sneezing or a runny nose or a 

blocked nose when did not have a cold or flu

104 (46)

8 (44)

0.87

Rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms

Rhinitis symptoms accompanied by itchy 

watery eyes

77 (34)

4 (25)

0.44

*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

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