Bronchial symptoms and respiratory function in workers exposed to methylmethacrylate.
This study aimed to investigate the pulmonary effects of methylmethacrylate (MMA) in a group of occupationally exposed workers. In the exposed group 20% had chronic cough compared with 1% in controls. Spirometric values at the beginning of the workshift were similar in both groups, but a mild airways obstruction appeared during the workshift. The maximum expiratory flow when 50% of the forced vital capacity remained to be exhaled (MEF50) and the ratio of MEF50 to maximal expiratory flow (MEF50/MEF) decreased significantly during the workshift among exposed workers v controls (p = 0.04 and 0.01 respectively). Results remained unaffected after adjustment for smoking. Exposure to MMA seems to be responsible for a mild airways obstruction but further study on a larger population would be useful.
Marez
T
T
Laboratoire de toxicologie, Institut de Médecine du travail-Faculté de Médecine, Lille, France.
Edmé
J L
JL
Boulenguez
C
C
Shirali
P
P
Haguenoer
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008449:Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves / Q000187:drug effects; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects
D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D020366:Methylmethacrylate