Metabisulphite-induced occupational asthma in a radiographer
- PMID: 15684307
- DOI: 10.1183/09031936.05.00024304
Metabisulphite-induced occupational asthma in a radiographer
Abstract
There is epidemiological evidence for an increased prevalence of occupational asthma among radiographers. However, the causes of darkroom disease are not yet defined. A 37-year-old female radiographer reported work-related asthma approximately 2 yrs after starting work in a local hospital. She was atopic and showed bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Occupational-type exposure with a fixing agent, but not with a developer, produced an immediate-type asthmatic reaction. As the fixing agent contained sodium metabisulphite (SMBS), a substance known to cause asthma, bronchial challenges with SMBS were performed in the patient and nine asthmatic controls. The patient showed a positive bronchial immediate reaction on 2 separate days after inhalation of 48 and 96 microg SMBS, and one control also showed a significant fall in forced expiratory volume in one second after inhalation of 12 microg SMBS. The positive reaction in the control subject argues for a greater susceptibility of both persons to SMBS or its reaction product sulphur dioxide, rather than for a new occupational allergen. It is concluded that sodium metabisulphite exposure should be recognised as a cause of darkroom asthma.
Similar articles
-
Sodium metabisulphite induced airways disease in the fishing and fish-processing industry.Occup Med (Lond). 2008 Dec;58(8):545-50. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqn130. Epub 2008 Oct 1. Occup Med (Lond). 2008. PMID: 18832347 Review.
-
Occupational asthma due to zinc.Eur Respir J. 1993 Mar;6(3):447-50. Eur Respir J. 1993. PMID: 8472836
-
A case of occupational asthma from metabisulphite in a fisherman.Int Marit Health. 2010;62(3):180-4. Int Marit Health. 2010. PMID: 21154306
-
Occupational asthma due to heated polypropylene.Eur Respir J. 1994 Feb;7(2):415-7. Eur Respir J. 1994. PMID: 8162997
-
Occupational asthma diagnosis in workers exposed to organic dust.Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004;11(1):1-7. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004. PMID: 15236491 Review.
Cited by
-
Adverse reactions to the sulphite additives.Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2012 Winter;5(1):16-23. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2012. PMID: 24834193 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Bronchial asthma and COPD due to irritants in the workplace - an evidence-based approach.J Occup Med Toxicol. 2012 Sep 26;7(1):19. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-7-19. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2012. PMID: 23013890 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Research Materials
