科研之友
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摘要
Objective. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2010 and January 2011 among workers from a cocoa plant in order to assess exposure, clinical signs of allergic disorders and immunological sensitization. Methods. Workers with regular current exposure to cocoa-containing dust (n = 35) were compared with administrative workers (n = 15) from the same plant (total employees: 231). Dust exposure was assessed using Air Check XR5000 dust samplers. A questionnaire about medical history and exposures was administered. Skin prick-tests were applied with commercial extracts of common aeroallergens and with a 0.1% suspension of cocoa powder collected from the plant. Specific IgE antibodies against cocoa were determined in serum using a commercially available method. Total serum IgE and other specific IgE antibodies were determined in selected subjects. Results. Dust concentrations ranged from 3.4 and 83.1 mg/m(3) in the halls. Rhinitis and conjunctivitis were reported by at least 28% of the subjects, but no statistically significant difference was found between exposed and controls. The skin prick-test against cocoa was positive in only one subject from the exposed group, and specific IgE against cocoa was found (> 0.37 Ua/mL) in only one control subject. Discussion. From these results, it does not appear that exposure in the cocoa primary processing industry leads to sensitization to cocoa. No good concordance was observed between the results from skin prick-tests and serum IgE against cocoa. Nevertheless, further research should be carried out in a larger sample and exposure to dust should be reduced by appropriate ventilation and worker protection.
- 出版日期2014-2
