HEADACHE AND BLOOD-PRESSURE AMONG TRIETHYLAMINE-EXPOSED FOUNDRY WORKERS

This study attempted to determine whether cold box core makers exposed to triethylamine in foundries experienced headaches or had elevated b lood pressure more often than workers without TEA exposure, as propose d by earlier reports. Forty-one core makers in three foundries and 82 referents were interviewed according to a structured questionnaire, an d their blood pressure was measured. TEA exposure was determined from breathing-zone measurements. The 8-h time-weighted average TEA exposur e varied between 0.3-60 mg/m(3). The core makers did not report that t hey had the general symptoms of headaches more often than the referent s. However, they had mild weekly headaches more often (44% vs. 17%). T he core makers also reported headaches more often during the workweeks (45% vs. 19%). It seems likely that TEA exposure provokes mild headac he among persons prone to suffer from vascular headaches. There was no difference in the occurrence of severe headaches or in the duration o f headaches between the groups. The blood pressures were similar in bo th groups.