He. Welinder et al., EXPOSURE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FORMATION OF SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES TO HEXAHYDROPHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE IN EXPOSED WORKERS, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 20(6), 1994, pp. 459-465
OBJECTIVES - Exposure-response relationships in the formation of speci
fic antibodies to hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) was studied in ex
posed workers. METHODS - The relation between exposure to HHPA and the
levels of specific immunoglobin E [(radioallergosorbent test (RAST)]
and immunoglobin G (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) antibodies was
investigated in a cross-sectional study on 95 workers from two plants
using epoxy resin with HHPA as a hardener; the mean time of exposure w
as 7 (range 0.1-25) years. RESULTS - The specific immunoglobin E and i
mmunoglobin G was significantly increased in exposed workers when they
were compared with unexposed workers or external referents. There was
no significant difference in the number of RAST positives [N = 23 (24
%)] between the groups of workers exposed to <10 mu g.m(-3), 10-<50 mu
g.m(-3), or greater than or equal to 50 mu g.m(-3). No effects were f
ound of atopy or smoking habits on the prevalence of RAST positives. F
ive out of seven workers positive for immunoglobulin E in the group wi
th the lowest exposures reported frequent short-time (minutes per day)
exposures exceeding 50 mu g.m(-3). A correlation was seen between spe
cific immunoglobulin E and G antibodies (r(s)=0.5). CONCLUSIONS - The
results indicate that HHPA is a sensitizing compound even at low expos
ure levels and that short-time peak exposures may have an impact on im
munoglobulin E sensitization.