Atopy and occupational asthma

Summary We evaluated atopy in 206 white collars and housewives with seasonal and perennial respiratory symptoms and in 58 workers occupationally exposed to isocyanate and flour with symptoms at work. Atopy was much less common among people with symptoms at work, but there was no significant difference in the frequency of atopics between varnishers and bakers. Self selection of atopic employees who leave their job because of respiratory symptoms may account for these results, but further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between atopic status and occupational asthma.