Prevalence of occupational allergy to <i>Chrysanthemum</i> pollen in greenhouses in the Netherlands

Abstract

There is a high prevalence of work-related symptoms in Chrysanthemum greenhouses. In one-third of the employees these symptoms were caused by an IgE-mediated allergy caused by the pollen of the flowers. Inhalant atopy appeared to have a great impact on the development of such a sensitization. Measurements to reduce the pollen exposure are necessary to prevent a further increase of this occupational allergy.