Allergy to Tobacco: An Occupational Hazard

In the past many investigators suggested that allergic reactions to tobacco antigens might be responsible for the occurrence of disease.1 The evidence linking disease with allergy to tobacco antigens was based on positive skin tests in patients with the disease. More recently, Becker and his associates2 , 3 have revived the concept that sensitivity to antigens present in tobacco may cause allergic reactions in human beings.We describe a patient who experienced rhinitis and asthma while working in a cigarette factory and who was sensitive to allergens in tobacco leaf. This allergy is a hazard of employment in the tobacco manufacturing industry. . . .