Table 4 The prevalence of respiratory, eye, and skin symptoms based on the questionnaire in unexposed controls, current foundry workers, and ex-foundry workers

Chronic bronchitis, n %

15 (9.3%)

41 (12.2%)

18 (28.1%)

< 0.001*^a

0.009* ^c

Attacks of shortness of breath and wheezing, n %

12 (7.5%)

28 (8.4%)

8 (12.5%)

0.375^a

0.559^d

Cough and wheezing in adulthood without respiratory infection, n %

3 (1.9%)

25 (7.5%)

9 (14.1%)

0.001*^b

0.007*^d

Chronic rhinitis symptoms n %

42 (26.1%)

124 (37.0%)

32 (50.0%)

0.002*^a

< 0.001*^d

Allergic rhinitis symptoms (pollen, animals etc.) n %

42 (26.1%)

78 (23.3%)

17 (26.6%)

0.706^a

0.894^d

Allergic rhinitis diagnosed by a physician n

23 (14.3%)

19 (5.7%)

4 (6.3%)

< 0.001* ^b

⁻

Rhinitis symptoms work-related n

19/42 (45.2%)^e

61/124 (49.2%)^e

-

0.115^a

0.178^d

Allergic conjunctivitis symptoms n %

30 (18.6%)

62 (18.5%)

14 (21.9%)

0.823^a

0.570^d

Allergic conjunctivitis diagnosed by a physician n

15 (9.3%)

18 (5.4%)

4 (6.3%)

0.136^b

-

Atopic eczema n %

38 (23.6%)

74 (22.1%)

19 (29.7%)

0.587^a

0.802^c