Anthropometric and clinical characteristics of the subjects
| Characteristics | |
| Subjects n | 212 |
| Male:female | 125 (59):87 (41) |
| Age yrs | 38.8±10.7 |
| Atopy +ve:−ve:unknown | 125 (59):84 (40):3 (1) |
| Smoking S:ES:NS | 46 (22):67 (32):99 (47) |
| Duration of exposure at work yrs | 11.9±10.0 |
| Interval between onset of exposure and onset of symptoms yrs | 8.6±9.2 |
| Interval between onset of symptoms and questionnaire yrs | 4.1±4.8 |
| Interval between last exposure at work and questionnaire yrs | 0.7±1.2 |
| FEV1 % pred | 92.8±15.4 |
| Values <80% pred | 41 (19) |
| PC20 mg·mL−1 | |
| Values ≤16 mg·mL−1 | 157 (74) |
| Confirmed diagnosis of OA | 72 (34) |
| No OA and PC20 ≤16 mg·mL−1 | 90 (42) |
| Molecular weight of the suspected agents high:low-molecular-weight agent | 71 (33)/141 (66) |
| Molecular weight of the causal agents high:low-molecular-weight agent | 40 (56)/32 (44) |
| Nature of causal agents | 72 |
| Flour and cereals | 17 (24) |
| Latex | 15 (21) |
| Isocyanates | 11 (15) |
| Various chemicals | 9 (12) |
| Wood dusts | 7 (10) |
| Laboratory animals | 4 (5) |
| Persulfate | 3 (4) |
| Resins and glues | 2 (3) |
| Various proteins | 2 (3) |
| Metals | 2 (3) |
Data are presented as n (%) or mean±sd. +ve: positive; −ve: negative; S: smoker; ES: ex-smoker; NS: nonsmoker; FEV1 % pred; forced expiratory volume in one second of per cent predicted; PC20: provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1; OA: occupational asthma.