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Occupational rhinitis and asthma due to EDTA‐containing detergents or disinfectants
Author(s) -
LabordeCastérot Hervé,
Villa Antoine F.,
Rosenberg Nicole,
Dupont Patricia,
Lee Hwee Min,
Garnier Robert
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22036
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational asthma , asthma , occupational exposure , occupational medicine , occupational safety and health , occupational disease , environmental health , dermatology , immunology , pathology
Background Detergents and disinfectants are an emerging cause of work‐related rhinitis and asthma. These products may contain ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The authors report 10 cases of EDTA‐related asthma and/or rhinitis. Methods Review of the medical charts of patients who presented with work‐related rhinitis (alone or with asthma), with a history of exposure to aerosols of EDTA‐containing products and who underwent a nasal provocation test (NPT) with tetrasodium EDTA (1–4%) in our occupational health unit. Results Twenty‐eight patients underwent a NPT with EDTA, which was positive in 10 cases. These patients, mostly cleaners or healthcare workers, used spray formulations of cleaning products. Conclusions This case series is the first report of EDTA‐related respiratory disease, documented by a specific test. An irritant mechanism is unlikely. Further studies are required to distinguish between an immunoallergic response and a pharmacological mechanism possibly resulting from calcium chelation, as suggested by animal experiments. A ban of spray preparations would be sufficient to prevent respiratory disease induced by EDTA inhalation, regardless of its mechanism. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:677–682, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.