Influence of Childhood Asthma and Allergies on Occupational Exposure in Early Adulthood: A Prospective Cohort Study

Orianne Dumas, Nicole Le Moual, Adrian J. Lowe, Caroline J. Lodge, Jan-Paul Zock, Hans Kromhout, Bircan Erbas, Jennifer L. Perret, Shyamali C. Dharmage, Geza Benke and Michael J. Abramson
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Orianne Dumas: INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases, Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, F-94807 Villejuif, France
Nicole Le Moual: INSERM, U1168, VIMA: Aging and Chronic Diseases, Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches, F-94807 Villejuif, France
Adrian J. Lowe: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
Caroline J. Lodge: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
Jan-Paul Zock: Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Hans Kromhout: Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
Bircan Erbas: School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC 3086, Australia
Jennifer L. Perret: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
Shyamali C. Dharmage: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia
Geza Benke: Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
Michael J. Abramson: Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-6

Abstract: We aimed to determine whether history of asthma/allergies in childhood was associated with avoidance of jobs with exposure to asthmagens in early adulthood. The Melbourne Atopic Cohort Study recruited 620 children at high risk of allergic diseases at birth (1990–1994). Asthma, hay fever and eczema were evaluated by questionnaires during childhood. A follow-up in early adulthood (mean age: 18 years) collected information on the current job. Occupational exposure to asthmagens/irritants was evaluated using a job-exposure matrix. The association between history of asthma/allergies in childhood and working in a job with exposure to asthmagens/irritants was evaluated by logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex and parental education. Among 363 participants followed-up until early adulthood, 17% worked in a job with exposure to asthmagens/irritants. History of asthma (35%) was not associated with working in an exposed job (adjusted OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.65–2.09). Subjects with history of hay fever (37%) and eczema (40%) were more likely to enter exposed jobs (significant for hay fever: 1.78, 1.00–3.17; but not eczema: 1.62, 0.91–2.87). In conclusion, young adults with history of allergies were more likely to enter exposed jobs, suggesting no avoidance of potentially hazardous exposures. Improved counselling against high risk jobs may be needed for young adults with these conditions.

Keywords: asthma; allergies; occupational exposure; healthy worker hire effect; longitudinal study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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