Work-related asthma in automobile spray painters: two case reports

Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2008 Jun;59(2):117-25. doi: 10.2478/10004-1254-59-2008-1858.

Abstract

This report describes two patients who had developed asthma after working as automobile painters with isocyanate-based aerosol paint for two years or over. In both patients asthma was confirmed using the standard diagnostic procedure. One of the subjects was atopic. One was ex-smoker and the other had never smoked. Neither had a family history of asthma. The symptoms occurred after workplace exposure lasting two years in one patient and three in the other. As both reported work-relatedness of the symptoms, they underwent serial peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measurement and bronchoprovocation testing. Significant work-related changes in PEFR diurnal variations and in non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (NSBH) were observed in one patient, suggesting allergic occupational asthma (OA), while the other patient was diagnosed work-exacerbated asthma (WEA). Our data confirm that spray painting is an occupation with increased risk of respiratory impairment and asthma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aerosols
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Asthma / etiology
  • Bronchial Provocation Tests
  • Humans
  • Isocyanates
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology
  • Paint* / adverse effects
  • Peak Expiratory Flow Rate

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Isocyanates