ADVERSE-EFFECTS ON THE RESPIRATORY-TRACT IN WORKERS IN TEXTILE AEROGRAPHY

Objective. To study the initial respiratory effects and those observed 18 months later after the inhalation of toxic and irritant substances in textile aerography workers. Subjects. Seventeen patients (14 women and 3 men), with a mean age of 21 years (range: 18-38). Methods. Init ially, pulmonary effects were assessed by pathological (transbronchial biopsy and/or video-thoracoscopy) and functional findings [spirometry with lung volumes and study of diffusion capacity of CO (DL(co))]. Ei ghteen months later a challenge bronchial test with histamine was perf ormed. Results. Forty-one per cent of patients had pathologic lesions with intraalveolar fibrin, 35% had minimal non-specific lesions, 18% b ronchiolitis obliterans with organized pneumonia (BOOP) and 6% pulmona ry fibrosis and ROOF, Functional respiratory test showed two patients with a slight restrictive pattern, one patient with very severe restri ction and six patients with low DL(co). The challenge tests was positi ve for 59% of patients. Conclusion. After the massive inhalation of ir ritant and/or toxic substances, patients presented different types of pathological response at pulmonary level. In our workers histological repairing lesions -of high or low degree- were found, ROOF being the l esions observed most frequently, and different patterns of functional involvement, Fifty-nine per cent of cases developed non-specific bronc hial hyperreactivity consistent with a reactive airways disfunction sy ndrome.