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Title: Elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and lung function in rubber workers

Abstract

We previously reported an outbreak of acute respiratory illness associated with eosinophilia in a group of rubber workers who performed a thermoinjection process in which synthetic rubber was heated and then injected onto metal molds. This study was conducted to determine if persistent respiratory health effects were associated with this work area and to explore the possible allergic etiology of this syndrome. A survey was performed 1 mo after a major improvement in area ventilation and consisted of baseline, cross-shift, and cross-week spirometry; diffusing capacity; serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), total eosinophil count; and skin patch testing. Baseline lung function, cross-shift, and cross-week spirometry were not significantly worse in the exposed group as compared to the control group. However, either eosinophilia (greater than 450/mm3) or elevated serum IgE (greater than 470 ng/ml) were present in 44% of exposed workers vs. 11% of the control group (p = .003). Nine months later, neither eosinophilia nor elevated IgE were associated with employment in this work area. We conclude that employment in the thermoinjection process was associated with eosinophilia and elevated IgE, which suggests sensitization to one of the components of the rubber, although no effect on pulmonary function could be demonstrated.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD (USA)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6967457
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Archives of Environmental Health; (USA)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 45:1; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-9896
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES; EPIDEMIOLOGY; RUBBERS; HEALTH HAZARDS; IMMUNOGLOBULINS; LUNGS; OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES; OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE; PERSONNEL; RUBBER INDUSTRY; BODY; DISEASES; ELASTOMERS; GLOBULINS; HAZARDS; INDUSTRY; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC POLYMERS; ORGANS; POLYMERS; PROTEINS; RESPIRATORY SYSTEM; 560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology

Citation Formats

Bascom, R, Baser, M E, Thomas, R J, Fisher, J F, Yang, W N, and Baker, J H. Elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and lung function in rubber workers. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.1080/00039896.1990.9935918.
Bascom, R, Baser, M E, Thomas, R J, Fisher, J F, Yang, W N, & Baker, J H. Elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and lung function in rubber workers. United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1990.9935918
Bascom, R, Baser, M E, Thomas, R J, Fisher, J F, Yang, W N, and Baker, J H. 1990. "Elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and lung function in rubber workers". United States. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1990.9935918.
@article{osti_6967457,
title = {Elevated serum IgE, eosinophilia, and lung function in rubber workers},
author = {Bascom, R and Baser, M E and Thomas, R J and Fisher, J F and Yang, W N and Baker, J H},
abstractNote = {We previously reported an outbreak of acute respiratory illness associated with eosinophilia in a group of rubber workers who performed a thermoinjection process in which synthetic rubber was heated and then injected onto metal molds. This study was conducted to determine if persistent respiratory health effects were associated with this work area and to explore the possible allergic etiology of this syndrome. A survey was performed 1 mo after a major improvement in area ventilation and consisted of baseline, cross-shift, and cross-week spirometry; diffusing capacity; serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), total eosinophil count; and skin patch testing. Baseline lung function, cross-shift, and cross-week spirometry were not significantly worse in the exposed group as compared to the control group. However, either eosinophilia (greater than 450/mm3) or elevated serum IgE (greater than 470 ng/ml) were present in 44% of exposed workers vs. 11% of the control group (p = .003). Nine months later, neither eosinophilia nor elevated IgE were associated with employment in this work area. We conclude that employment in the thermoinjection process was associated with eosinophilia and elevated IgE, which suggests sensitization to one of the components of the rubber, although no effect on pulmonary function could be demonstrated.},
doi = {10.1080/00039896.1990.9935918},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6967457}, journal = {Archives of Environmental Health; (USA)},
issn = {0003-9896},
number = ,
volume = 45:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}