Effect of respiratory protective devices on development of antibody and occupational asthma to an acid anhydride.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the use of respiratory protective equipment would reduce the incidence of occupational asthma due to exposure to hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
A facility that makes an epoxy resin product requiring HHPA for its manufacture.


METHODS
Sixty-six individuals newly hired at a facility that makes an epoxy resin product requiring HHPA for its manufacture.


METHODS
Employees who wished to use respiratory protective equipment could choose from three types of masks: dust mask, half-face organic vapor respirator, or full-face organic vapor respirator.


METHODS
Workers were evaluated annually for development of positive antibody to HHPA and occupational, immunologic respiratory disease, including occupational asthma.


RESULTS
With use of respiratory protective equipment, the rate of developing an occupational immunologic respiratory disease was reduced from approximately 10 to 2% per year. Occupational asthma developed in only three individuals, and they were all in the higher exposure category. Statistically, one respirator was not superior to the others.


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory protective equipment can reduce the incidence of occupational immunologic respiratory disease, including occupational asthma, in employees exposed to HHPA.
Grammer
Leslie C
LC
Division of Allergy-Immunology and the Ernest S. Bazley Asthma and Allergic Diseases Center, Department of Medicine of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University, Chicago 60611, USA. l-grammer@northwestern.edu
Harris
Kathleen E
KE
Yarnold
Paul R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D012307:Risk Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; C005752:araldite; D007073:Immunoglobulin E