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Workplace
Short report
Pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) may cause occupational asthma
  1. Milene Torp Madsen1,
  2. Lars Rauff Skadhauge2,
  3. Anders Daldorph Nielsen1,
  4. Jesper Baelum1,
  5. David Lee Sherson1,3
  1. 1 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
  2. 2 Department of Occupational Medicine, Hospital of South West Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark
  3. 3 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
  1. Correspondence to Dr Milene Torp Madsen, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense 5230, Denmark; milene.t.madsen{at}rsyd.dk

Abstract

Introduction Anhydrides are widely used as cross-linking agents in epoxy resins and alkyd production, for example, as coatings and adhesives in plastic products. Sensitisation to several anhydrides is known to cause occupational asthma. There are indications that the lesser known pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) can cause irritative respiratory symptoms and possibly asthma. We report three cases of workers from a plastic foil manufacturing plant, who developed asthma when exposed to PMDA during specific inhalation challenge (SIC).

Methods SIC was performed over 2 days according to recommendations of European Respiratory Society. Lactose powder was used in control challenges and a mixture of 10% PMDA and 90% lactose powder in active challenges.

Results All cases experienced a delayed decrease in forced expiratory flow in 1 s (FEV1) 4–12 hours after active challenge. FEV1 decreased by 19%, 15% and 16%, respectively. After 21 hours, FEV1 decreased by 24% in one worker.

Discussion Respiratory symptoms after working hours may represent delayed work-related asthma. During SIC, the three patients developed lower respiratory symptoms and a delayed decrease in FEV1 which suggest sensitisation. The mechanism of anhydride-related asthma is not well understood. Anhydrides are known irritants and hence an irritative response cannot be excluded. The company improved ventilation and enforced the use of respiratory protection equipment, and finally phased out PMDA. Occupational workplace risk identification may help to identify exposures. SIC can contribute to improving working conditions, by identifying and confirming asthmogens in the environment.

  • asthma
  • asthma occupational
  • anhydrides
  • pyromellitic dianhydride
  • PMDA

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2018-105295

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors DLS, LRS and JB: identified the cases. DLS, LRS, JB, ADN and MTM: managed the cases. DLS, LRS and JB: examined the cases. DLS: had the idea for the article. MTM, DS, LRS and JB: reported the work described in this article. DLS and LRS: are guarantors of this Short Report.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.