Asthma and rhinitis after exposure to glutaraldehyde in endoscopy units

Hum Toxicol. 1986 Sep;5(5):325-8. doi: 10.1177/096032718600500505.

Abstract

Four nurses working in endoscopy units complained of respiratory symptoms on exposure to alkaline glutaraldehyde used as a disinfectant for fibre-optic endoscopes. A provocation test was positive in two of these patients. This is the first report to use provocation testing to confirm a relation between exposure to alkaline glutaraldehyde and respiratory disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Airway Resistance
  • Aldehydes / adverse effects*
  • Asthma / chemically induced*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Disinfectants / adverse effects
  • Endoscopes
  • Endoscopy / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Forced Expiratory Volume
  • Glutaral / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Rhinitis / chemically induced*
  • Rhinitis / physiopathology

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Disinfectants
  • Glutaral