Volatile Organic Compounds Contribute to Airway Hyperresponsiveness
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
;
: 8-12, 2007.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-199153
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in concentrations found in both the work and home environments may influence lung function. We investigated the prevalence of airway responsiveness in workers exposed to VOCs.METHODS:
We used allergic skin tests, nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness testing and questionnaires to study twenty exposed workers and twenty-seven control subjects. Atopy was defined as a reactor who showed >3+ response to one or more allergens on the skin prick tests. Airway hyperresponsiveness (BRindex) was defined as log [% fall of FEV1/ log (last concentration of methacholine) +10].RESULTS:
The VOC exposed workers, in comparison with the control subjects, tended to have a higher BRindex (1.19+/-0.07 vs. 1.15+/-0.08, respectively). Workers exposed to VOCs with atopy or smoker, as compared with the workers exposed to VOCs with non-atopy and who were non-smokers and the control subjects with non-atopy and who were non-smokers, had a significantly higher BRindex (1.20+/-0.05 vs. 1.14+/-0.06 vs. 1.10+/-0.03, respectively p<0.05). The BRindex was not correlated with atopy, the smoking status or the duration of VOC exposure.CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that VOCs may act as a contributing factor of airway hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to VOCs.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Organic Chemicals
/
Skin Tests
/
Smoking
/
Case-Control Studies
/
Chemical Industry
/
Forced Expiratory Volume
/
Surveys and Questionnaires
/
Risk Factors
/
Occupational Exposure
/
Bronchial Hyperreactivity
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
Year:
2007
Type:
Article
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