Asthma in chemical workers exposed to aliphatic polyamines.
Following the identification of an index case of occupational asthma, we assessed the respiratory morbidity in 12 workers exposed to aliphatic polyamines in a chemical factory and in 60 unexposed workers in three other workplaces. Many amine workers reported symptoms of chronic cough (7/12), chronic phlegm (9/12), wheezing (4/12) and exertional breathlessness (3/12). These were significantly more frequent in exposed than in unexposed workers (P < 0.01). They also had significantly greater diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow rates (DV-PEFR) than the unexposed workers (P < 0.01). All four amine workers with wheezing reported onset of symptoms after employment at the factory, and all had DV-PEFR greater than 15%, compared to only one control worker (P < 0.01). A second case of occupational asthma was confirmed by bronchial challenge test. The study indicated a very high risk of asthma and chronic airways disease and a need for stringent measures to protect the health of industrial workers exposed to aliphatic amines in Singapore.
Ng
T P
TP
Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore.
Lee
H S
HS
Malik
M A
MA
Chee
C B
CB
Cheong
T H
TH
Wang
Y T
YT
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011073:Polyamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation
D011073:Polyamines