INCREASED BRONCHIAL RESPONSIVENESS IN WORKERS SAWING SCOTS PINE

The purpose of the present investigation was to study bronchial respon siveness and pulmonary function in Swedish sawmill workers, who are no t exposed to plicatic acid, the sensitizer in red wood cedar asthma. B ronchial responsiveness, transfer factor, spirometry, and precipitatin g antibodies in serum against sawmill fungi were measured in 164 worke rs at five sawmills. The results from workers inside the sawing area ( sawyers, n = 59), in the trimming department (trimmers, n = 66), and f rom other workers in the sawmill (sawyer-referents, n = 39) were compa red. Sawyers had higher bronchial responsiveness than referents. In 55 % of the sawyers FEV(1) decreased by 20% or more within the highest do se of methacholine compared with 31% of sawyer-referents and 41% of tr immers (p < 0.01, sawyers/referents). Sawyers decreased 74% more in FE V(1) per milligram of inhaled methacholine compared with referents (ge ometric means, p < 0.01). The transfer test in never-smokers was 13% l ower in sawyers than in trimmers (p < 0.01) and 8% lower compared with sawyer-referents (nonsignificant p < 0.1). Presence of precipitating antibodies was not associated with changes in pulmonary function. Some agents in the sawing area of sawmills appear to increase bronchial re sponsiveness and decrease diffusion capacity.