Table 1.

Prevalence and aetiological agents in occupational rhinitis (adapted from reference [9]).

Agents	Occupation	Prevalence (%)
High molecular weight agents
Laboratory animals	Laboratory workers	6–33
Other animal-derived allergens	Swine confinement workers	8–23
Insects & mites	Laboratory workers, farm workers	2–60
Grain dust	Grain elevators	28–64
Flour	Bakers	18–29
Latex	Hospital workers, textile factory	9–20
Other plant allergens	Tobacco, carpet, hot pepper, tea, coffee, cocoa, dried fruit and saffron workers	5–36
Biological enzymes	Pharmaceutical & detergent industries	3–87
Fish and seafood protein	Trout, prawn, shrimp, crab & clam workers; aquarists & fish-food factory workers	5–24
Low molecular weight agents
Diisocyanates	Painters, urethane mould workers	36–42
Anhydrides	Epoxy resin production, chemical workers, electric condenser workers	10–48
Wood dust	Carpentry & furniture making	10–36
Metals (platinum)	Platinum refinery	43
Drugs (psyllium, spiramycin, piperacillin)	Health care & pharmaceutical workers	9–41
Chemicals	Reactive dye, synthetic fibre, cotton, persulphate, hairdressing, pulp & paper, shoe manufacturing	3–30