title: Interstitial lung disease due to fumes from heat-cutting polymer rope.
abstract: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) due to inhalation of fume/smoke from heating or burning of synthetic polymers has not been reported previously. A fish farm worker developed ILD after cutting rope (polypropylene and nylon) for about 2 hours per day over an extended period using an electrically heated 'knife'. This process produced fume/smoke that entered the workers breathing zone. No other likely cause was identified. This case suggests that exposure to airborne contaminants generated by the heating or burning of synthetic polymers has the potential to cause serious lung disease.
authors.affiliation: Hobart Occupational Medicine, St Johns Hospital, South Hobart, Tasmania 7004, Australia. peter_sharman@me.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wood-Baker
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009757:Nylons / Q000009:adverse effects; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000009:adverse effects; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D009757:Nylons; D011108:Polymers; D012906:Smoke; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Inhalational toxicology; interstitial lung disease; man-made synthetic fibres; occupational exposure; occupational respiratory disease.