A case of occupational asthma in a plastic injection process worker.
OBJECTIVE
We report a case of death due to asthma attack in a plastic injection process worker with a history of asthma.


METHODS
To assess task relevance, personal history including occupational history and medical records were reviewed. Samples of the substances utilized in the injection process were collected by visiting the patient's workplace. The work environment with the actual process was reproduced in the laboratory, and the released substances were evaluated.


RESULTS
The medical records confirmed that the patient's conventional asthma was in remission. The analysis of the resins discharged from the injection process simulation revealed styrene, which causes occupational asthma, and benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, and octadecyl ester. Even though it was not the case in the present study, various harmful substances capable of inducing asthma such as formaldehyde, acrolein, and acetic acid are released during resin processing.


CONCLUSIONS
A worker was likely to occur occupational asthma as a result of the exposure to the harmful substances generated during the plastic injection process.
Jong Suk
JS
Lee
Hyun Seok
HS
Kwak
Byung Soon
BS
Choi
Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Ansan, Korea. ggoragi@gmail.com.
So Young
SY
Park