Small airways function in workers exposed to piperazine.
An N2 wash-out technique was used to estimate the small airways function in 22 male workers, exposed to the asthma-inducing amine piperazine, and in 22 referent subjects, with similar smoking habits and age. The volume of trapped gas (VTG) was determined before and after a bronchial provocation with an aerosol of 0.25 ml 0.01% metacholine solution. No difference in VTG was observed between the piperazine-exposed workers and the referent subjects, either before or after the metacholine provocation. This indicates that a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure of about 0.1 mg piperazine/m3 does not cause small airways disease in non-asthmatic workers. Further, age and smoking habits were significantly associated with VTG.
Hagmar
L
L
Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
Arborelius
M
M
Bellander
T
T
Welinder
H
H
Skerfving
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077489:Piperazine; D010879:Piperazines / Q000506:poisoning*; D012119:Respiration; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking
D010879:Piperazines; D000077489:Piperazine; D009584:Nitrogen