R. Wrbitzky et al., EARLY REACTION TYPE ALLERGIES AND DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY PASSAGES IN EMPLOYEES FROM PERSULFATE PRODUCTION, International archives of occupational and environmental health, 67(6), 1995, pp. 413-417
The prevalence of positive skin-prick test reactions to ammonium persu
lphate and potassium persulphate (1% and 5% solutions) was tested in a
cross-sectional study on 52 employees of a company producing persulph
ates after a case of ''persulphate asthma'' was observed. A random tes
t of 13 persons without occupational exposure to persulphates served a
s controls; among them all the skin-prick test reactions were negative
. Eight company employees showed a positive skin-prick test reaction t
o at least one of the persulphate solutions tested. Employees showed l
ower lung function results with a positive prick test reaction than di
d employees with a negative result. The positive skin-prick reactions
correspond well to the anamnestic data and indicate a possible relatio
nship to obstructive ventilation disorders. The results therefore sugg
est an IgE-induced, allergic pathomechanism of ''persulphate asthma''
triggered by persulphates.