Asthma due to inhaled chemical agents—epoxy resin systems containing phthalic acid anhydride, trimellitic acid anhydride and triethylene tetramine

Abstract

Six workers with occupational asthma and 1 with chronic bronchitis were examined for sensitivity to epoxy resin systems and certain of their components. In 6 cases the chemical agent responsible for their symptoms was identified by careful inhalation challenge testing, simulating their exposure at work and thus providing a precise etiological diagnosis. In 1 worker asthma followed exposure to triethylene tetramine fumes; 4 were sensitive to acid anhydrides, 3 to phthalic acid anhydride as a fume or powder and one to trimellitic anhydride. One worker thought to be sensitive to toluene di-isocyanate gave negative reactions to this and positive reactions to a phthalic acid anhydride epoxy resin and another thought to have asthma from acid anhydride fumes was sensitive only to toluene di-isocyanate. Immediate, non-immediate or combined asthmatic reactions were elicited.