Occupational Acroosteolysis

Abstract

An epidemiological study was performed covering 5,011 employees with 21,510 man-years experience in various phases of vinyl chloride (VC) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manufacturing in 32 plants throughout the United States and Canada. The total number of definitive cases of acroosteolysis (AOL) was 25; 16 other individuals were under suspicion. This condition is clearly associated with the hand cleaning of polymerizers. Workers engaged in oither phases of VC or PVC manufacturing do not appear to be at risk of developing AOL. The importance of Raynaud’s phenomenon as a concomitant of AOL is emphasized. Several statistical approaches for rapid medical survey are suggested. Acroosteolysis appears to be a systemic rather than local disease. Presently, neither the etiological agent nor its portal of entry is known.