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Exposure assessment and sensitisation in workers exposed to organic acid anhydrides

Drexler, H ; Jönsson, Bo A LU ; Goen, T ; Nielsen, Jörn LU ; Lakemeyer, M and Welinder, Hans LU (2000) In International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 73(4). p.228-234
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To clarify whether the intensity of exposure to organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) is associated with the risk of sensitisation to these allergens. METHODS: The investigations were carried out in three different manufacturing plants (A, B, and C) where OAAs were used in the production of epoxy resins. Methyltetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) was used in all three plants. The exposure assessment included stationary and ambient air monitoring (OAAs in the air) and biological monitoring (metabolites in urine). In plant A 20, in plant B 86 and in plant C 113 employees were examined by a physician (anamnesis, skin-prick test, specific IgE, spirometry). In plants B and C, the exposure areas were classified as high, medium, and... (More)
OBJECTIVES: To clarify whether the intensity of exposure to organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) is associated with the risk of sensitisation to these allergens. METHODS: The investigations were carried out in three different manufacturing plants (A, B, and C) where OAAs were used in the production of epoxy resins. Methyltetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) was used in all three plants. The exposure assessment included stationary and ambient air monitoring (OAAs in the air) and biological monitoring (metabolites in urine). In plant A 20, in plant B 86 and in plant C 113 employees were examined by a physician (anamnesis, skin-prick test, specific IgE, spirometry). In plants B and C, the exposure areas were classified as high, medium, and low, without the results of the exposure assessment being known. RESULTS: The ambient air concentrations (in microg/m3) of MTHPA were 37.2 and 58.5 in plant A (number of samples n = 2), ranged from <0.5-26.2 in plant B (n = 5) and from 2.1-57.9 in plant C (n = 3) with stationary air collecting, and from 8-45 (n = 6), from < 4.7-35.7 (n = 3) and from 2-37.8 (n = 3) with personal air collection. The metabolites of OAAs in urine (in nmol/mmol creatinine) ranged from 5.7-645 (median of MTHPA: 346) in plant A, from < 1-213 (median of MTHPA: 10.1) in plant B and from 0.1-830 (median of the sum of the OOA metabolites: 108.6) in plant C. The prevalence of sensitisation was 35% in plant A, 21% in plant B and 29% in plant C. A higher prevalence in the highly exposed areas, however, could not be seen. Levels of IgE specific for conjugates of MTHPA were not associated with the metabolites in the end of shift urine. Levels of IgG specific for conjugates of MTHPA, however, were associated with the metabolites in the end of shift urine. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that biological monitoring is a useful tool in the exposure assessment of OAAs. Comparing the prevalence of sensitisation and the results of biological monitoring, between the three plants, we found that sensitisation increased with increasing exposure. Within a plant a higher risk of sensitisation in persons working in highly exposed areas at the time of the examination could not be seen, possibly due to frequent job rotation. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Specific IgE, Biological monitoring, Allergy, Exposure assessment, Occupational asthma, Acid anhydrides, Specific IgG
in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
volume
73
issue
4
pages
228 - 234
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:10877028
  • scopus:0343674505
ISSN
1432-1246
DOI
10.1007/s004200050422
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f697263c-cf81-40af-b829-1a5c0d454b9f (old id 1116842)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:22:42
date last changed
2022-01-28 19:17:44
@article{f697263c-cf81-40af-b829-1a5c0d454b9f,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVES: To clarify whether the intensity of exposure to organic acid anhydrides (OAAs) is associated with the risk of sensitisation to these allergens. METHODS: The investigations were carried out in three different manufacturing plants (A, B, and C) where OAAs were used in the production of epoxy resins. Methyltetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride (MTHPA) was used in all three plants. The exposure assessment included stationary and ambient air monitoring (OAAs in the air) and biological monitoring (metabolites in urine). In plant A 20, in plant B 86 and in plant C 113 employees were examined by a physician (anamnesis, skin-prick test, specific IgE, spirometry). In plants B and C, the exposure areas were classified as high, medium, and low, without the results of the exposure assessment being known. RESULTS: The ambient air concentrations (in microg/m3) of MTHPA were 37.2 and 58.5 in plant A (number of samples n = 2), ranged from &lt;0.5-26.2 in plant B (n = 5) and from 2.1-57.9 in plant C (n = 3) with stationary air collecting, and from 8-45 (n = 6), from &lt; 4.7-35.7 (n = 3) and from 2-37.8 (n = 3) with personal air collection. The metabolites of OAAs in urine (in nmol/mmol creatinine) ranged from 5.7-645 (median of MTHPA: 346) in plant A, from &lt; 1-213 (median of MTHPA: 10.1) in plant B and from 0.1-830 (median of the sum of the OOA metabolites: 108.6) in plant C. The prevalence of sensitisation was 35% in plant A, 21% in plant B and 29% in plant C. A higher prevalence in the highly exposed areas, however, could not be seen. Levels of IgE specific for conjugates of MTHPA were not associated with the metabolites in the end of shift urine. Levels of IgG specific for conjugates of MTHPA, however, were associated with the metabolites in the end of shift urine. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that biological monitoring is a useful tool in the exposure assessment of OAAs. Comparing the prevalence of sensitisation and the results of biological monitoring, between the three plants, we found that sensitisation increased with increasing exposure. Within a plant a higher risk of sensitisation in persons working in highly exposed areas at the time of the examination could not be seen, possibly due to frequent job rotation.}},
  author       = {{Drexler, H and Jönsson, Bo A and Goen, T and Nielsen, Jörn and Lakemeyer, M and Welinder, Hans}},
  issn         = {{1432-1246}},
  keywords     = {{Specific IgE; Biological monitoring; Allergy; Exposure assessment; Occupational asthma; Acid anhydrides; Specific IgG}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{228--234}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health}},
  title        = {{Exposure assessment and sensitisation in workers exposed to organic acid anhydrides}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004200050422}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s004200050422}},
  volume       = {{73}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}