Acute pulmonary toxicity following occupational exposure to a floor stain protector in the building industry in Switzerland.
BACKGROUND
Waterproofing agents are widely applied to leather and textile garments; they are also used as floor stain protectors by professionals. Acute respiratory injury is described in three cases of young healthy adults following occupational inhalation of a new waterproofing formulation containing an acrylate fluoropolymer. Within 1 or 2 h after exposure they developed a rapidly progressive dyspnoea; two of them had hypoxaemia and flu-like reactions. All patients improved with supportive treatment in a few days. The mechanism of toxicity is still under investigation, but experimental data suggest the role of this new acrylate fluoropolymer.


CONCLUSIONS
Tilers should be warned against spraying floor stain repellents; there is also a need to make consumers aware that the spraying of waterproofing agents in a closed environment and concomitant smoking should be avoided.
Institute of Occupational Health Sciences (IST), Bugnon 19, 1005, Lausanne, Switzerland. Catherine.Blanchet@hospvd.ch
Catherine
C
Lazor-Blanchet
Sophie
S
Rusca
David
D
Vernez
Raymond
R
Berry
Eric
E
Albrecht
Pierre-Olivier
PO
Droz
Marcel-André
MA
Boillat
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010316:Particle Size; D013557:Switzerland
D000180:Acrylic Resins