Abstract

GONZALEZ DOMINGUEZ, Mª Eugenia et al. Exposure to environmental contaminants & respiratory pathology. Med. segur. trab. [online]. 2008, vol.54, n.213, pp.41-46. ISSN 1989-7790.

Target: After the appearance of 5 cases with respiratory symptoms in an aeronautical company and their exposal to different chemical substances, we proposed to investigate their possible link with the working environment.  Material and methods: Aluminium environmental dust measurements, trichloroethylene and glycol, alergic study with these substances as well as with aero alergens and epicutaneos tests with a european standard accumulator were made, blood analysis, thorax x-rays, peak-flow measurements and functional respiratory tests, Methacholine test and electrocardiogram.  Results: The peak-flow measurement and the direct bronchial hyperactivity test using metacholine were negative. The alergic tests performed were generally negative with the exception of 3 positive results concerning aero alergens test.  Conclusions: The negative results of the peak-flow measurements and the metacholine test of an active worker, would practically disguard a cadre of work related asthma, at the present time. We cannot discard the concomitant possibility of a reactive disfunction syndrome via the aerial route in a precise moment of time previous to the study. In such case, the existence of an initial bronchial hyperreactivity could have yielded finally not being detectable with metacholine. The creation of multidisciplinary equipment is fundamental for the detection of respiratory diseases of possible work origin.

Keywords : Allergy; occupational; trichloroethylene; aluminium; glycol.

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