Biopsy-Confirmed Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis in Automobile Production Workers Exposed to Metalworking Fluids – Michigan, 1994- 1995

Details

• Journal Article:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Personal Author:
  Harkaway, P. ; Robins, T. ; Rose, C. ; Harkaway, P. ; Robins, T. ; Rose, C.
• Description:
  Preliminary findings of a NIOSH evaluation of occupational exposure of automobile production workers to metalworking fluids (MWF) were presented. The evaluation was requested following the diagnosis of six biopsy confirmed cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) among workers at three southeastern Michigan manufacturing facilities. A case report of one worker, including clinical symptoms, work history, pulmonary function tests, and treatment was presented. Four cases of HP were reported during 1994 to 1995 by health clinics. The two subsequent cases were discovered during a review of worker medical records. An additional 14 probable cases of HP were identified but not confirmed by biopsy. Of the six confirmed HP cases, all were nonsmokers and all but one associated symptoms with working in areas with MWF exposure. Job descriptions for the afflicted workers were toolmaker, machining supervisor, grinder, metal machine repair, machinist and carpenter. Work related symptoms, initial pulmonary function tests and biopsy results were reported. Pulmonary function improved in all six workers following their removal from MWF exposure. Serum precipitin tests were negative in both workers tested. An editorial note qualified the presented findings on the basis of four limitations. It was pointed out that the cases of HP were not systematically identified, that MWF exposure was not measured, that HP prevalences and incidences were not estimated, and that no precipitating antibodies were found in the tested workers. The editors conclude that improved surveillance of workers exposed to MWF is necessary to ascertain the association of MWF to HP. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Case Reports Lung Lung Diseases Metals Metal Workers Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Hypersensitivity Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Automotive-industry Case-studies Clinical-diagnosis Immunological-tests Metal-industry-workers Metal-workers Metalworking-industry NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure Pulmonary-disorders Pulmonary-function-tests Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-hypersensitivity

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• Series:
  Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)   ; Weekly Report: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)  
• ISSN:
  0149-2195 (print) ; 1545-861X (digital)
• Publisher:
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (U.S.)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  6 pdf pages
• Volume:
  45
• Issue:
  28
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00233089
• Citation:
  MMWR 1996 Jul; 45(28):606-610
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1996
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:4454d02f18a5fe0473eb3f4173b2771669d6709f6959fb5397d94974fa1f072ce0ef4ec0202a9d727a10d8a57e3bce0ff4769d13448cfe60cb74ba5d8963976d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183026/cdc_183026_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 102.58 KB ]