title: Cross-Sectional Study of Respiratory Symptoms, Spirometry, and Immunologic Sensitivity in Epoxy Resin Workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An epoxy resin worker developed hypersensitivity pneumonitis requiring lung transplantation and had an abnormal blood lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) to an epoxy hardener. We assessed the prevalence of symptoms, abnormal spirometry, and abnormal epoxy resin LPT results in epoxy resin workers compared to unexposed workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed questionnaires and underwent spirometry. We collected blood for epoxy resin LPT and calculated stimulation indices for five epoxy resin products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We compared 38 exposed to 32 unexposed workers. Higher exposed workers were more likely to report cough (OR 10.86, [1.23-infinity], p = 0.030) or wheeze (OR 4.44, [1.00-22.25], p = 0.049) than unexposed workers, even controlling for smoking. Higher exposed workers were more likely to have abnormal FEV1 than unexposed workers (OR 10.51, [0.86-589.9], p = 0.071), although not statistically significant when adjusted for smoking. There were no differences in proportion of abnormal epoxy resin system LPTs between exposed and unexposed workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, workers exposed to epoxy resin system chemicals were more likely to report respiratory symptoms and have abnormal FEV1 than unexposed workers. Use of epoxy resin LPT was not helpful as a biomarker of exposure and sensitization.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.|Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, The University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Stella E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Health, Division of Pathology, Department of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaitens
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Health, Division of Pathology, Department of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sills
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Kirby
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duvall
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Health, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.|Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Denver, Colorado, USA.|Division of Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Colorado-Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: Cecile S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003120:Colorado; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013147:Spirometry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins
keywords: biological monitoring; health surveillance; lung function; respiratory; sensitizers