Sensitization to storage mites in urban working environment.

ABSTRACT

This paper presents an analysis of a medical history questionnaire, skin prick test and specific IgE to storage mites Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae performed on 26 male paper mill workers and 36 postmen. Positive prick test were considered urticas with the mean diameter of 3 mm or over. Increased specific IgE were considered values of over 0.35 kU/L. Paper mill workers manifested a significantly higher frequency of positive test results, increased specific IgE and positive prick test, to L. destructor and T. putrescentiae than did the postmen. Paper mill workers with increased specific IgE manifested significantly greater mean skin reactivity to T. putrescentiae than to L. destructor. Respiratory symptoms were found in 40% of paper mill workers with positive test results to L. destructor, and in 53.8% with positive test results to T. putrescentiae. All postmen with positive test results to L. destructor and 83.3% with positive test results to T. putrescentiae had respiratory symptoms. The study results indicate that it is necessary to monitor sensitization to mites and to establish methods for identification and quantification of mites in the working and general environment.