HEALTH-EFFECTS AND EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT OF AEROSOLIZED PENTAMIDINE HANDLERS

Nurses administering aerosolized pentamidine (AP) were studied to dete rmine any effect AP may be having on their health. Exposure was determ ined by each nurse's self-report of treatment given as recorded in a d aily log and personal and area pentamidine sampling. Outcome measures were self-reported symptoms recorded in a daily log and peak expirator y flow rates (PEFR) and cross-shift and cross-week pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Results revealed no dose-response effect of pentamidine exposure on cross-shift and cross-week PFTs. However, declines in cros s-shift PEFRs, diffusion capacities, and increased symptom complaints were observed for a subset of the study population. This suggested tha t outcomes were modulated by host factors (history of hay fever and al lergy) as well as exposure doses. Treatment booth efficacy in containi ng fugitive AP aerosol was also corroborated as a means of minimizing worker exposure.