4-YEAR EVALUATION OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE - A BRIEF REPORT

Abstract

In a 4-yr clinical, immunologic and environmental study of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) exposure in a single plant, 20 workers exposed to TMA powder were evaluated in 1979, and 32 workers were evaluated from 1979-1983. Two distinct groups emerged before and after workplace control improvements were made in 1979. Of the original 20 workers, 17 were available for longitudinal study through 1983. Annual clinical evaluations and serum radioimmunoassays for total antibody binding and specific IgE binding to 125I TM-HSA (human serum albumin) were performed on all 32 workers. In 1979, 6 workers had antibody against TM-HSA, 3 had the late respiratory systemic syndrome and 2 had TMA-induced allergic rhinitis or allergic rhinitis and asthma. One worker had antibody against TM-HSA without illness. Additional workers (15) were evaluated longitudinally after institution of several workplace control measures. Four of these 15 workers had TMA exposure prior to environmental improvement and joined the study in 1982. The remaining 11 workers joined the study in 1982 and had at least 2 yr of TMA exposure in the modified workplace. None of these 11 workers developed a TMA-induced immunologic syndrome or significant total or specific IgE antibody binding to 125I TM-HSA.