Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers

Few cases of asthma caused by the two-spotted spider mite (TSM) have been reported among nonfarmer apple-packing workers. This study investigated whether allergic sensitization due to the TSM occurs in workers at the Agricultural Products Processing Center. The polymerase chain reaction was used to...

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Main Authors: Won-Seok Cha, Deaho Kim, Jae-Hoon Shin, Jin-Ee Baek, Mi-Yeon Kim, Sangjun Choi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Safety and Health at Work
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791125000058
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author Won-Seok Cha
Deaho Kim
Jae-Hoon Shin
Jin-Ee Baek
Mi-Yeon Kim
Sangjun Choi
author_facet Won-Seok Cha
Deaho Kim
Jae-Hoon Shin
Jin-Ee Baek
Mi-Yeon Kim
Sangjun Choi
author_sort Won-Seok Cha
collection DOAJ
description Few cases of asthma caused by the two-spotted spider mite (TSM) have been reported among nonfarmer apple-packing workers. This study investigated whether allergic sensitization due to the TSM occurs in workers at the Agricultural Products Processing Center. The polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze apples and leaves provided to the Agricultural Products Processing Center for the presence of TSM. Skin prick tests using TSM antigen were administered to 10 workers, and serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE for TSM antigens were quantified. Of the 10 workers, four tested positive for TSM in the skin prick test, three had elevated total IgE levels, and one had also elevated specific IgE levels to TSM. This confirms that apple-packing workers risk allergic sensitization due to TSM exposure. Preventive measures are recommended not only for apple farmers but also for nonfarmer apple-packing workers.
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spelling doaj-art-ae9d2a0b01de403492bb39b337d24da02025-08-20T02:47:37ZengElsevierSafety and Health at Work2093-79112025-03-0116112212610.1016/j.shaw.2025.01.005Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing WorkersWon-Seok Cha0Deaho Kim1Jae-Hoon Shin2Jin-Ee Baek3Mi-Yeon Kim4Sangjun Choi5Institute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Incheon, 21417, Republic of Korea; Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of KoreaInstitute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Incheon, 21417, Republic of KoreaInstitute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Incheon, 21417, Republic of KoreaInstitute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Incheon, 21417, Republic of KoreaInstitute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Incheon, 21417, Republic of KoreaGraduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea; Catholic Institute for Public Health and Healthcare Management, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Public Health and Healthcare Management, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author. Graduate School of Public Health and Healthcare Management, The Catholic University of Republic of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 06591, Republic of Korea.Few cases of asthma caused by the two-spotted spider mite (TSM) have been reported among nonfarmer apple-packing workers. This study investigated whether allergic sensitization due to the TSM occurs in workers at the Agricultural Products Processing Center. The polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze apples and leaves provided to the Agricultural Products Processing Center for the presence of TSM. Skin prick tests using TSM antigen were administered to 10 workers, and serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE for TSM antigens were quantified. Of the 10 workers, four tested positive for TSM in the skin prick test, three had elevated total IgE levels, and one had also elevated specific IgE levels to TSM. This confirms that apple-packing workers risk allergic sensitization due to TSM exposure. Preventive measures are recommended not only for apple farmers but also for nonfarmer apple-packing workers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791125000058allergenasthmaskin-prick test
spellingShingle Won-Seok Cha
Deaho Kim
Jae-Hoon Shin
Jin-Ee Baek
Mi-Yeon Kim
Sangjun Choi
Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers
Safety and Health at Work
allergen
asthma
skin-prick test
title Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers
title_full Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers
title_fullStr Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers
title_full_unstemmed Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers
title_short Two-spotted Spider Mite as a Factor for Occupational Asthma in Nonfarmer Apple-packing Workers
title_sort two spotted spider mite as a factor for occupational asthma in nonfarmer apple packing workers
topic allergen
asthma
skin-prick test
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2093791125000058
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