ASTHMA IN CHEMICAL WORKERS EXPOSED TO ALIPHATIC POLYAMINES

Following the identification of an index case of occupational asthma, we assessed the respiratory morbidity in 12 workers exposed to aliphat ic polyamines in a chemical factory and in 60 unexposed workers in thr ee other workplaces. Many amine workers reported symptoms of chronic c ough (7/12), chronic phlegm (9/12), wheezing (4/12) and exertional bre athlessness (3/12). These were significantly more frequent in exposed than in unexposed workers (P<0.01). They also had significantly greate r diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow rates (DV-PEFR) than the u nexposed workers (P<0.01). All four amine workers with wheezing report ed onset of symptoms after employment at the factory, and all had DV-P EFR greater than 15%, compared to only one control worker (P<0.01). A second case of occupational asthma was confirmed by bronchial challeng e test. The study indicated a very high risk of asthma and chronic air ways disease and a need for stringent measures to protect the health o f industrial workers exposed to aliphatic amines in Singapore.