Work related health effects among production workers in the king crab industry in North Norway

Introduction: Fishing and processing of the red king crab along the coast in the most northern part of Norway has increased in the last 10 years. In Canada and Alaska, crab processing has been shown to be associated with a range of workplace hazards, particularly asthma and asthma-like symptoms.  

Objectives: The main aim of this project is to gather knowledge on the prevalence of occupational airway symptoms and respiratory disease in relation to crab processing.  

Methods: Quantitative mapping of employee’s self-reported airway symptoms, airways disease and allergies through questionnaires and qualitative mapping of airway diseases and symptoms through medical examinations. All medical examinations were performed on production workers participating in personal exposure measurements during 4 consecutive working days. Some medical examinations were performed on all production workers in the plant.  Results: Results are presented for non-smokers compared to a control group of non-exposed individuals.  Preliminary data analysis (SPSS) indicates that the prevalence of general respiratory symptoms as wheezing, shortness of breath and cough were higher among king crab production workers (14-21%) compared to the control group (6-11%). The prevalence of work related upper airway symptoms (as sneezing, running nose, sore throat) and work related lower airway symptoms (as cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness)  were also higher among production workers (7-11% and 3-14% respectively) compared to the control group (4-7% and 0-5% respectively).    

Conclusion: Workers involved in crab processing in Northern Norway have a higher prevalence of work-related upper and lower airway symptoms compared to a reference group.