araldite and Rhinitis

The relation between exposure and sensitization or the appearance of symptoms of the eyes and airways was investigated in a cross-sectional study on 32 workers from a plant using epoxy resin with a mixture of hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) as a hardener. The main component in the hardener was HHPA, and the geometric mean concentrations of HHPA in the workplaces were extremely low (<40 microg/m3) in recent years, compared to the Occupational Exposure Limit-Ceiling for phthalic anhydride (2 mg/m3). However, specific IgE antibody to HHPA was detected in serum from 8 (25%) out of the workers: of those, 5 workers experienced symptoms of the eyes and nose during work (group sensitized symptomatic (SS)) and 3 workers did not (group sensitized nonsymptomatic (SN)). The other 24 workers had no signs of sensitization and did not complain of work-related symptoms. Based on occupational history and anamnestic data, it was concluded that one subject in the SS group and all the subjects in the SN group had been sensitized by higher exposures in the past. The symptoms of 4 subjects in the SS group occurred only when carrying out short-time, particular tasks (15-30 min) a few times a day, such as the resin mixing procedures, manual application of the resin, or opening of ovens. High peak exposures were estimated to have occurred during the particular tasks. Our results suggest that short-time peak exposures may have a great impact on the development of specific IgE or work-related symptoms. Therefore, to minimize the risk of sensitization and work-related symptoms, a reduction of exposure during particular tasks with high peak exposures, along with a decrease in mean 8-h time-weighted average exposure, should be achieved.

Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Analysis of Variance; Asthma; Drug Hypersensitivity; Epoxy Resins; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Phthalic Acids; Phthalic Anhydrides; Rhinitis

Acid anhydrides are low-molecular weight chemicals known to cause respiratory irritancy and allergy. Skin allergy has on rare occasions been reported. A total of 3 subjects with occupational exposure to methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) and hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) from an epoxy resin system were studied to evaluate the nature of their reported skin and nose complaints (work-related anamnesis, specific IgE, contact urticaria examinations, and ambient monitoring). Using a Pharmacia CAP system with a HHPA human serum albumin conjugate, specific IgE antibody was detected in serum from 1 (33.3%) out of the 3 workers. One unsensitized worker displayed nasal pain and rhinorrhea only when loading liquid epoxy resins into the pouring-machine (2.2 mg MHHPA/m3 and 1.2 mg HHPA/m3), probably being an irritant reaction. Two workers had work-related symptoms at relatively low levels of exposure (geometric mean 32-103 microg MHHPA/m3 and 18-59 microg HHPA/m3); one complained of only rhinitis, and the other was sensitized against HHPA and displayed both rhinitis and contact urticaria (the face and neck). The worker's skin symptoms were evidently due to airborne contact, since she had not had any skin contact with liquid epoxy resin or mixtures of MHHPA and HHPA. These urticaria symptoms were confirmed by a 20-min closed patch test for MHHPA, but not by that for HHPA. The causative agent was considered to be MHHPA, although the specific IgE determination to MHHPA was not performed.

Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants; Asthma; Bronchoconstrictor Agents; Dermatitis, Occupational; Epoxy Resins; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Occupational Exposure; Patch Tests; Phthalic Anhydrides; Rhinitis; Urticaria

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and immunologic status of hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA)-exposed employees who had developed an immunologic respiratory disease and who have been removed from exposure for at least 1 year. In a surveillance study spanning 4 years, we identified 28 employees with HHPA-induced immunologic respiratory disease who had been removed from exposure for at least 1 year. Seven had asthma, nine had hemorrhagic rhinitis, four had both, and eight had allergic rhinitis alone. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by physician-administered questionnaires. For each employee, a physical examination, spirometry, and chest roentgenograph were performed. Antibody against HHPA conjugated to human serum albumin (HHP-HSA) was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Symptoms, signs, and spirometry normalized in all but one employee. There were no chest-roentgenograph findings at follow-up that could be attributed to HHPA. There was a decline in antibody liter for both immunoglobulin E and G against HHP-HSA. In this group of 28 employees, there was only one employee with mild asthma after removal from exposure for at least I year. Although specific antibody was still present in many, the titers were generally lower at follow-up than at presentation.

Topics: Adult; Asthma; Chi-Square Distribution; Environmental Monitoring; Epoxy Resins; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Phthalic Anhydrides; Rhinitis

The purpose of this study was to determine clinical and immunologic status of hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) employees who have had immunologic respiratory disease and who have been removed from exposure for at least 1 year. In a retrospective study, 16 consecutive employees with HHPA-induced immunologic respiratory disease who had been removed from exposure for more than 1 year were evaluated. Eleven had asthma, allergic rhinitis, or both; five had hemorrhagic rhinitis. Respiratory symptoms were obtained by physician-administered questionnaire. Physical examination, spirometry, and chest film were obtained. Antibody against HHPA conjugated to human serum albumin (HHP-HSA) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. Symptoms, signs, and pulmonary functions were normalized in all employees. There was a decline in antibody titers for both IgE and IgG against HHP-HSA. There were no chest film findings attributable to HHPA. In this group, there appeared to be no evidence of permanent anatomic sequelae after removal from exposure for at least 1 year. Specific antibody was still present, but titers were lower at follow-up than at presentation for a substantial proportion of the sample.

Topics: Antibodies; Asthma; Epoxy Resins; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Phthalic Anhydrides; Rhinitis; Time Factors

Hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) is a component of some epoxy resin systems. A high fraction of HHPA-exposed workers display nasal symptoms, and some of them have specific serum antibodies. To test the pathogenetic relevance of the antibodies nasal challenge tests were performed with a conjugate of HHPA and human serum albumin (HSA) at three increasing concentrations. Eleven subjects, who were IgE-sensitized against HHPA (positive in RAST and in skin-prick test against the HHPA-HSA conjugate), and who reported work-related nasal symptoms, had a significant increase of nasal symptoms and a decrease of nasal inspiratory peak flow after the challenges. The symptoms were associated with specific serum IgE, but with IgG. Further, significant increases were found in eosinophil and neutrophil counts, and in levels of tryptase, and albumin, whereas no clear rise was recorded for eosinophil cationic protein in nasal lavage fluid. Nine subjects, who were not sensitized, but who complained of work-related nasal symptoms, and 11 subjects, who were not sensitized and had no symptoms, displayed no significant change in any of these parameters. It is concluded that the symptoms in some of the workers were caused by an IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation, followed by an inflammatory reaction, engaging eosinophil and neutrophil cells.

Topics: Adult; Blood Proteins; Chymases; Eosinophil Granule Proteins; Epoxy Resins; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Middle Aged; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nasal Provocation Tests; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Peroxidase; Phthalic Anhydrides; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Rhinitis; Ribonucleases; Serine Endopeptidases; Tryptases

This is a descriptive study of six men who had been occupationally exposed to heated epoxy resin containing hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) who presented with rhinitis, nasal mucosal erosions, and significant epistaxis; three also had asthma. When they were removed from exposure to HHPA, the rhinitis symptoms, nasal erosions, and epistaxis resolved spontaneous. All six had high titers of IgG and IgE against HHP-HSA as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Other asymptomatic workers with similar HHPA exposure had ver low or negative titers of IgG and IgE against HHP-HSA. We conclude that these results are very suggestive of an immunologic mechanism being responsible for the rhinitis, nasal mucosal erosions, and epistaxis that occurred in the six described HHPA workers.

Topics: Adult; Asthma; Epistaxis; Epoxy Resins; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Nasal Mucosa; Occupational Diseases; Phthalic Anhydrides; Rhinitis; Skin Tests