Severe Occupational Lung Disease from Exposure to Flavoring Chemicals

Details

• Personal Author:
  Kanwal, Richard
• Description:
  When it comes to occupational lung disease, most physicians are familiar with well-known risks such as long-term exposure to asbestos or coal dust. However, occupational exposures may be responsible for approximately 15 percent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and adult asthma cases. In addition, new occupational risks continue to emerge as industry develops new products and uses new chemicals and production processes. Bronchiolitis obliterans in workers with inhalation exposure to butter flavoring chemicals is an example of the new type of hazard. Since 2000, workers at many microwave popcorn plants and flavoring manufacturing plants have been seriously affected. Butter flavorings are used in many other foods, such as snack cakes, cookies, pretzels, candy, and dairy products. Restaurant cooks use butter-flavored vegetable oil products to prepare meals. The magnitude of the risk to workers exposed in these settings is currently unknown. Identification by a physician of a possible job-related illness at the worksite can facilitate prevention efforts. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Chemistry Food-Processing Industry Food Additives Food Handling Food Industry Health Personnel Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Airway-obstruction Bronchial-asthma Chemical-processing Disease-prevention Food-additives Food-handlers Food-processing-workers Lung-disorders Lung-function Occupational-diseases Occupational-exposure Physicians Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders Spirometry Worker-health

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• ISSN:
  0002-838X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; 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:
  87
• Volume:
  79
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20034999
• Citation:
  Am Fam Phys 2009 Jan; 79(2):87
• Email:
  richkanwal@comcast.net
• CAS Registry Number:
  Butanedione (CAS RN 431-03-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Family Physician
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7efccca5633b1baae5f76c397cb7bb42d70389db1891670b4cc2984048bb33c034f7eb74aa2eb725b64b249585cd798ec0f1c2ec81815fca239eccc166ee1bd3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187004/cdc_187004_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 993.45 KB ]