Source: Annual Congress 2002 - Exposure to chemicals
Disease area: Airway diseases

Abstract

Background: Isocyanates are a major cause of occupational asthma (OA). No study has followed subjects from the onset of occupational exposure to hexamethylene diisocyanates (HDI) to the development of early markers of OA.
Aim: To determine the incidence of work-related rhinoconjunctivitis, respiratory symptoms, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) (a PC20 [lte]16 mg/ml) in newly exposed apprentices.
Methods: A cohort of 343 apprentices in car- and aircraft-painting is being assembled from seven vocational schools in Montreal, Canada, and surrounding cities. Blood samples, respiratory questionnaires and methacholine bronchial challenge tests data are collected at entry and at the end of an 18-month apprenticeship. Atopy is assessed through skin-prick tests and defined as a positive response to at least one of 11 common inhalants.
Results: Results from 137 subjects who have completed the study are presented. These were mostly males (119/137) of (mean ±] SD) 24.4 ±] 8.7 years of age. In this group, 55.0% of subjects were atopic, 45.3% current smokers and 14.6% reported non-occupational asthma. Twelve subjects (8.8%) developed work-related rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms and six (4.4%) work-related respiratory symptoms. BHR was documented in 29 (20%) subjects on entry. The incidence of new onset BHR was 7.3% (8 subjects); besides, five subjects with BHR on entry showed a significant decrease in PC20 (>=3.2-fold), one of whom reported incident work-related respiratory symptoms.
Conclusion: The incidence of work-related respiratory symptoms and BHR was 4.4% and 7.3%, respectively. The next step will be to determine the levels of seric specific IgE and IgG antibodies by their response to HDI conjugates.
Supported by the International Isocyanate Institute

Rating:

Share or cite this content

Citations should be made in the following way:
L. Rousseau, J. L. Malo, H. Ghezzo, D. Gautrin (Montreal, Canada). Incidence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and work-related symptoms in apprentice painters exposed to diisocyanates: a longitudinal study. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 854

Member's Comments

No comment yet.

Related content which might interest you: Incidence of probable occupational asthma and changes in airway calibre and responsiveness in apprentice welders Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: 513-518 Year: 2003 Effect of welding fumes on rhinitis symptoms and nasal patency: Quebec apprentice cohort study Source: International Congress 2018 – Occupational and environmental lung diseases: from early influences and novel exposures to preventative approaches Year: 2018 Incidence of probable occupational asthma and changes inairway calibre and responsiveness in apprentice welders. Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 22: 867 Year: 2003 Respiratory symptoms, atopy and bronchial hyperreactivity in professional municipal firefighters Source: Eur Respir J 2006; 28: Suppl. 50, 464s Year: 2006 Respiratory symptoms, atopy and bronchial hyperreactivity in professional firefighters Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: 538-544 Year: 2007 Wheezing, atopy, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in exposed and unexposed female workers Source: Annual Congress 2005 - Cleaning and cooking: a risk for occupational and household asthma Year: 2005 Nasal symptoms in agricultural and administrative workers: relation to atopy, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and daily smoking Source: Eur Respir J 2007; 30: Suppl. 51, 638s Year: 2007 Respiratory work disability and occupational outcomes in adults with asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness Source: Annual Congress 2011 - Work-related respiratory diseases and specific exposures Year: 2011 The incidence of respiratory symptoms and sensitisation in baker apprentices Source: Eur Respir J 2008; 32: 452-459 Year: 2008 Risk occupations of irritant-induced occupational asthma. Source: Virtual Congress 2020 – Occupational and environmental causes of respiratory disease Year: 2020 Respiratory symptoms, bronchial inflammation, atopy, and bronchial hyperreactivity in professional firefighters Source: Annual Congress 2009 - Occupational exposures and disease II Year: 2009 Airway mucosal inflammation is present in aluminium potroom workers with workrelated asthma Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 284s Year: 2002 Evolution of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in textile printing workers after stopping exposure Source: Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 130s Year: 2002 Exposure to airway irritants and asthma among professional cleaners from 10 European countries Source: Annual Congress 2007 - Occupation and obstruction Year: 2007 Prevalence of airway allergic diseases, atopy and COPD in coal-dust miners Source: Annual Congress 2007 - Occupation and obstruction Year: 2007 Nasal symptoms in female cleaners: relation to respiratory symptoms, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and duration of exposure Source: Annual Congress 2007 - Occupational asthma Year: 2007 Exposure to irritants and asthma in cleaning workers: a workforce-based study Source: Annual Congress 2009 - Occupational exposures and disease II Year: 2009 Smoking habit, COPD and bronchial hyperresponsiveness among aluminium potroom workers Source: Eur Respir J 2005; 26: Suppl. 49, 604s Year: 2005 Definitions and types of work-related asthma: a nosological approach Source: Eur Respir J 2003; 21: 706-712 Year: 2003 A case of occupational wheezing and cough: is it always work-related asthma? Source: International Congress 2019 – Occupational and epidemiology Grand Round Year: 2019