Finger clubbing in match factory workers in Fiji.

ABSTRACT

This communication reports of two cases of digital clubbing in a factory manufacturing matches in Vitilevu, Fiji Islands. Both these cases were occupationally exposed to chemicals used in the manufacture of matches. They had physical contact with these chemicals including rhodamine B dye. Subjects who worked in the same factory area, including one worker who had FEV1.0 and FVC values below the predicted normal, but who did not handle chemicals showed no evidence of finger clubbing.