REVIEW OF TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE (TMA) INDUCED RESPIRATORY RESPONSE

Acid anhydrides such as trimellitic anhydride (TMA) are of interest du e to their important industrial uses and to their adverse health effec ts in exposed populations. Important industrial uses of TMA include th e production of epoxy and alkyd resins used to manufacture a variety o f coating materials. The adverse health effects are a result of its di rect irritant effects on mucosal surfaces in all exposed humans as wel l as its ability to cause immunologic sensitization in a small proport ion of humans. In those individuals who are immunologically sensitized , reexposure to TMA cart result in well described immunologic syndrome s: asthma-rhinitis, late respiratory systemic syndrome (LRSS), and ver y rarely pulmonary disease anemia syndrome (PDA). In. summary, adverse health effects of TMA are due to its effects as an irritant, an immun ologic sensitizer, or a combination of both.