Acute and long-term airway hyperreactivity in aluminium-salt exposed workers with nocturnal asthma.
Nineteen young male workers exposed occupationally from 1975-1977 to inhaled particles of aluminium fluoride or sulphate at 2 plants, developed nocturnal wheezing and breathlessness with reversible airways obstruction after an average of 4 months employment. At standardized methacholine provocation tests (MPT), 17 of 19 workers with normal spirometry showed airway hyperreactivity with a fall of FEV1 of greater than or equal to 15% after 0.1% methacholine. We followed 15 initially asthmatic workers for 2-5 years with MPT. Mean TD 15% FEV1 in 11 workers did not change significantly after an average of 41 months of non-exposure. Six workers continuously exposed for 48 months also failed to change their TD 15% FEV1 MCh. In 1983, only one subject had returned to normal airway reactivity. We have no reason to suspect inducing agents other than aluminium salts.
D000328:Adult; D000534:Alum Compounds; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005459:Fluorides; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking; D013431:Sulfates / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity
D000534:Alum Compounds; D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D008688:Methacholine Compounds; D013431:Sulfates; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; C041524:aluminum sulfate; D000535:Aluminum; D005459:Fluorides; C032311:aluminum fluoride