Olfactory loss in poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastic injection-moulding workers.
BACKGROUND
Plastics manufacturing factories are the fifth largest category of factories in industrial estates in Taiwan. It is known that complex airborne compounds and pungent odours are emitted during plastic injection-moulding processes. Workers exposed to acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) thermal decomposition products (TDP) may have olfactory loss.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined olfactory loss in injection-moulding workers exposed to ABS TDP.


METHODS
The method recommended by the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) was used to test the olfactory function of subjects, including 1-butanol threshold and odour identification, both pre- and post-work. The study sample included 52 ABS plastic injection-moulding workers (exposed group), as well as 72 workers from other departments (reference group).


RESULTS
The results revealed that the exposed group had lower olfactory function after work than the reference group. The decrease in olfactory function after 1 workday was statistically significant. The prevalence of abnormal olfactory function post-work in the exposed group was higher than in the reference group.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study implied the ABS plastic injection-moulding process may worsen olfactory function among workers. Notably, this effect decreased olfactory threshold scores, not odour identification scores.
Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. chengsf@mail.iosh.gov.tw
Shu-Fang
SF
Cheng
Mei-Lien
ML
Chen
Po-Chen
PC
Hung
Chiou-Jong
CJ
Chen
I-Fang
IF
Mao
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000328:Adult; D002070:Butadienes / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010969:Plastics / Q000633:toxicity*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000633:toxicity*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects*
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D002070:Butadienes; D010969:Plastics; D011137:Polystyrenes; C024636:ABS resin