Study on Allergic Rhinitis in Workers Exposed to Methyltetrahydrophthalic Anhydride

概要

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Methylterahydrophthalic anhydride (MTHPA) is used as a hardening agent in an epoxy resin system. Because work-related nasal symptoms were observed in some workers exposed to MTHPA at two condenser plants, a cross-sectional survey was performed to improve their work environment. Mean MTHPA levels in the manufacturing processes to which the workers were routinely assigned were extremely low (1.09-22.4μg/m^3). However, specific IgE antibody (S-IgE) was detected in 9 (32%) of 28 workers. Of these, 8 (89%) had nasal symptoms. An IgE-mediated mechanism seems to be associated with at least some of the cases of work-related nasal symptoms. This indicates that the occupational health administration of MTHPA cannot be controlled simply by limiting exposure in the work environment. Total IgE (T-IgE) levels were significantly higher in S-IgE-positive workers than in S-IgE-negative workers (geometric mean, 200.5 and 51.3 IU/ml, respectively ; p<0.002, unpaired t test). These findings demonstrate that workers in whom S-IgE is less likely to be produced, i.e., those in whom the T-IgE level is 80 IU/ml or less, should be assigned to work in these manufacturing processes.
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