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RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND VENTILATORY CAPACITY IN MEN EXPOSED TO ISOCYANATE VAPOUR
Author(s) -
GANDEVIA BRYAN
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1964.13.2.157
Subject(s) - wheeze , isocyanate , medicine , sputum , respiratory system , physical examination , productive cough , lung , chemistry , organic chemistry , pathology , polyurethane , tuberculosis
Summary Twenty employees in a factory using isocyanate were studied in an attempt to relate clinical features to significant decreases observed in ventilatory capacity during the course of a working day (reported in detail elsewhere). The clinical picture of the “isocyanate respiratory syndrome” is described by reference to cases occurring in current and former employees, and the morbidity is shown to be a significant factor in the labour turnover. Evidence is presented to suggest that greater decreases in ventilatory capacity on exposure to isocyanate vapour are found in those who smoke and who give a history of cough and sputum prior to employment, and those who have a productive cough or wheeze on examination. A past or family history of chest disease or a history of chronic or recurrent nasal symptoms does not, in the present series, appear to influence the ventilatory reaction to isocyanate. The evidence for the development of tolerance in some subjects is described.