Obliterative Bronchiolitis in Workers in a Coffee-Processing Facility – Texas, 2008–2012

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bailey R ; Blihartz P ; Cummings, Kristin J. ; Glazer C ; Huff S ; Kriess K ; Levin J ; McCague A-B ; Saito, Rena ; Stocks JM
• Description:
  Obliterative bronchiolitis, a rare, irreversible form of fixed obstructive lung disease, has been identified in workers exposed to flavoring chemicals while working in the microwave-popcorn and flavoring-manufacturing industries; the occupational risk to workers outside these industries is largely unknown. This report describes two cases of obliterative bronchiolitis identified in workers employed in a small coffee-processing facility. Both patients' illness was misdiagnosed before they received a diagnosis of work-related obliterative bronchiolitis, which had not been identified previously in the coffee-processing industry. These cases reinforce the need for exposure evaluation in all industries in which workers are exposed to flavoring chemicals. Additionally, a high index of suspicion is required when these potentially exposed workers have progressive shortness of breath. If obliterative bronchiolitis is suspected, immediate protection from further exposure is crucial to prevent further deterioration of lung function. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Chemistry Food Additives Irritants Lung Lung Diseases Men Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Women

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• Keywords:
  Chemical-composition Chemical-properties Coffee-workers Diseases Etiology Exposure-levels Food-additives Humans Lung-disease Pulmonary-disorders Pulmonary-function Pulmonary-system Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiration Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Risk-factors Spirometry Workers

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• Series:
  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
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 6 ; Texas ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  305-307
• Volume:
  62
• Issue:
  16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042504
• Citation:
  MMWR 2013 Apr; 62(16):305-307
• Email:
  wja6@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Center - Tyler
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20070701
• Source Full Name:
  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9435964b7cb626aee1c4d194b5298fe2981333f50f167a229b652759f85db7d928c5e3c4e2aa07a66a6ca254e7de46ec7b8116430a5e576445e54ce0a1797f95
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183214/cdc_183214_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 319.40 KB ]