Merget R, Buenemann A, Kulzer R, Rueckmann A, Breitstadt R, Kniffka A, Kratisch H, Vormberg R, Schultze-Werninghaus G
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Bergmannsheil, Germany.
Occup Environ Med. 1996 Jun;53(6):422-6. doi: 10.1136/oem.53.6.422.
Hair bleaches containing persulphates have been identified as the cause of occupational asthma in hairdressers. Also employees in persulphate production with occupational asthma have been described. It was the aim of this study to give an estimate of the prevalence of asthma due to persulphates in chemical workers with exposure to ammonium and sodium persulphate.
A cross sectional study was performed in 32 of 33 employees of a persulphate producing chemical plant. Eighteen of 23 workmen from the same plant with no exposure to persulphates were taken as controls. Also, information was collected from medical records of the seven subjects who had left the persulphate production for medical reasons since 1971. Data were recalled by a questionnaire, skin prick tests were performed with five environmental allergens, and ammonium and sodium persulphate (80 mg/ml). Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to the same environmental allergens as in the skin test, and total IgE were measured. Lung function and bronchial responsiveness to histamine were assessed by standard procedures. Workplace concentrations of ammonium and sodium persulphate were estimated by area and personal monitoring. The amount of persulphate was analysed as sulphur by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry.
Work related rhinitis was reported by one subject with exposure to persulphates, conjunctivitis and bronchitis were reportedly related to work by two controls. There were no cutaneous reactions to persulphates in either group. Four non-atopic subjects exposed to persulphates, and two controls, one atopic and one non-atopic, were considered to be hyperresponsive to histamine. Three subjects exposed to persulphates with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (provocation dose of histamine causing a 15% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD15 FEV1) < or = 1 mg) did not show variability in peak expiratory flow of > or = 20%, the rest refused peak flow measurements. None of the variables showed significant differences between the groups (P > 0.05). Six of the exworkers left because of work related contact dermatitis. Mean values for workplace concentrations of ammonium and sodium persulphate within the bagging plant were below 1 mg/m3, and the maximal concentrations were 1.4 mg/m3 and 3.6 mg/m3, respectively.
Exposure to workplace concentrations of ammonium and sodium persulphate of about 1 mg/m3 in this chemical plant was not associated with a risk of occupational asthma.
含过硫酸盐的头发漂白剂已被确认为美发师职业性哮喘的病因。也有关于过硫酸盐生产企业中患职业性哮喘的员工的报道。本研究的目的是评估接触过硫酸铵和过硫酸钠的化工工人中因过硫酸盐导致的哮喘患病率。
对一家过硫酸盐生产化工厂的33名员工中的32名进行了横断面研究。选取该工厂23名未接触过硫酸盐的工人作为对照组。此外，收集了自1971年以来因健康原因离开过硫酸盐生产岗位的7名受试者的医疗记录信息。通过问卷调查收集数据，用5种环境过敏原以及过硫酸铵和过硫酸钠（80mg/ml）进行皮肤点刺试验。检测与皮肤试验中相同环境过敏原的特异性免疫球蛋白E（IgE）以及总IgE。通过标准程序评估肺功能和支气管对组胺的反应性。通过区域监测和个人监测估计工作场所过硫酸铵和过硫酸钠的浓度。用过硫酸根含量通过电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法分析硫含量来测定。
一名接触过硫酸盐的受试者报告有与工作相关的鼻炎，两名对照组报告结膜炎和支气管炎与工作有关。两组对过硫酸盐均无皮肤反应。4名接触过硫酸盐的非特应性受试者以及两名对照组受试者（一名特应性和一名非特应性）被认为对组胺反应过度。3名接触过硫酸盐且有支气管高反应性（组胺激发剂量导致一秒用力呼气容积下降15%（PD15 FEV1）≤1mg）的受试者呼气峰值流速变异性未≥20%，其余受试者拒绝进行呼气峰值流速测量。两组之间的各项变量均无显著差异（P>0.05）。6名离职员工因与工作相关的接触性皮炎而离职。包装车间内过硫酸铵和过硫酸钠的工作场所浓度平均值低于1mg/m3，最大浓度分别为1.4mg/m3和3.6mg/m3。
在这家化工厂，接触工作场所浓度约为1mg/m3的过硫酸铵和过硫酸钠与职业性哮喘风险无关。
