Wheezing in a commercial diver due to disinfectant.
A case is described of a saturation diver with no previous history of asthma who repeatedly developed work-related symptoms of asthma at pressure, which appear to be causally related to the use of dichlorophen as a disinfectant agent. Although challenge tests were negative, suggesting that dichlorophen may have been acting as an irritant rather than as a sensitizer, the symptoms were abolished by the use of an alternative disinfectant agent. The potential importance of this effect in a diver is discussed, and the case highlights the importance of the use of nontoxic agents in the diving environment.
Watt
S J
SJ
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen Medical School, Foresterhill, Scotland.
D000328:Adult; D004003:Dichlorophen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004242:Diving; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D004003:Dichlorophen