Wheat exposure and prevalence of work-related sensitization in bakers: a bell-shaped curve

Occupational airway diseases are common among bakers. Prevalence of wheat allergy in Japan is 0.2% - the assessment was based on questionnaire-based exam, skin prick test, and omega-5 gliadin sIgE (http://goo.gl/Mp4nW).

A 'validation study' was performed among 860 Dutch bakers to confirm a diagnostic model that predicts the likelihood of sensitization to workplace allergens.

The prevalence of wheat sensitization, work-related respiratory symptoms and asthma increased until wheat exposure levels reached 25–30 μg/m3, then leveled off, and decreased at higher exposure concentrations (bell-shaped curve).


Normal distribution. Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

References:

Wheat allergen exposure and the prevalence of work-related sensitization and allergy in bakery workers. J. H. Jacobs 1 , T. Meijster 1,2 , E. Meijer 1 , E. Suarthana 1,3 , D. Heederik 1 Allergy. 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01698.x
New classification proposed for gluten-related disorders: celiac disease; dermatitis herpetiformis; gluten ataxia; wheat allergy; gluten sensitivity. WSJ, 2012.
Key figures: New nomenclature and classification of gluten-related disorders and Algorithm for the differential diagnosis of gluten-related disorders, including celiac disease, gluten sensitivity and wheat allergy. BMC Medicine 2012.
Image, top right: Sack of wheat, Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.