Occupational histamine poisoning by fish flour: a case report

Histamine poisoning due to inhalation and skin contact with fish products i s rarely described in the literature. This study presents a case of occupat ional histamine poisoning by spoiled fish flour via inhalation, skin and ey e contact. Shipments of fish flour transported in black or blue bags, depen ding on the source, were handled by 20 harbour workers. Ten workers handlin g blue bags developed allergy-like skin, eye, gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiac symptoms within 30 min. Workers handling black bags were sympt om-free, except for minimal eye irritation. After consultation with the Poi son Control Centre histamine poisoning was suspected. The histamine content , as determined by thin-layer chromatography, was 10-fold higher in samples from the blue than from the black bags (510 mg/100 g flour compared with 5 0 mg/100 g flour, respectively). Part of the shipment was labelled as hazar dous for human health with permission for further usage only under specific personal protective measures. It is suggested that the highest permissible levels of histamine in fish flour and similar products should be set and l egally adopted.