Evaluation of cutaneous responses and lung function from exposure to opiate compounds among ethical narcotics-manufacturing workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bernstein DM ; Bernstein IL ; Biagini, Raymond E. ; Henningsen GM ; Klincewicz SL ; Mittman R
• Description:
  A study of skin responses and lung function in workers manufacturing opiates was conducted. The cohort consisted of 39 workers at the facility, 37 males, mean age 45 years. The comparisons consisted of eight managerial and clerical employees at the facility, seven males, mean age 46 years, and 17 nonexposed volunteers, 20 to 55 years old. Skin prick testing with morphine-6-hemisuccinate/human serum albumin conjugate (M-6-HS-HSA), dihydrocodeine (125280), oxycodone (76426), hydrocodone (125291), codeine (76573), and morphine (57272) and nine common aeroallergens was conducted. Pre and post shift 1 second forced expiratory volumes (FEV1s) were measured. Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFRs) were monitored for an 8 day period that included the regular working week and a 3 day weekend. Breathing zone samples were collected and analyzed for codeine and morphine. The percentage of exposed workers demonstrating positive skin prick responses to the opiate substances varied from 15 to 100%, the highest rate of positivity occurring with dihydrocodeine and hydrocodone. Similar variability was seen in the comparisons; however, thresholds for producing a positive reaction were significantly lower in the cohort. Atopic status was not significantly associated with skin prick response. Mean overshift FEV1 decrements of the exposed workers did not differ significantly from those of the comparisons. Five exposed workers, two of whom were asthmatic, had overshift FEV1 decrements of greater than 10%. Ten of 30 exposed workers had single day decreases in daily PEFRmax-min of greater than 20%. The mean PEFRmax-min values of the exposed workers during the workweek were significantly lower than over the weekend. Breathing zone codeine and morphine concentrations ranged from nondetectable to 23.6 and 10.5mg/m3, respectively. The authors conclude that workers occupationally exposed to opiates showed increased cutaneous reactivity to opiate compounds which could reflect development of a pharmacologic hypersensitivity. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Epidemiology Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Pharmacies Respiratory Function Tests Safety Skin
• Keywords:
  Drugs Humans Industrial-hygiene NIOSH-Author Occupational-exposure Pharmaceutical-industry Pulmonary-function-tests Skin-tests
• ISSN:
  0091-6749
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  108-118
• Volume:
  89
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00205849
• Citation:
  J Allergy Clin Immunol 1992 Jan; 89(1):108-118
• CAS Registry Number:
  (-)-Oxycodone (CAS RN 76-42-6) ; Codeine (CAS RN 76-57-3) ; Dihydrocodeine (CAS RN 125-28-0) ; Hydrocodone (CAS RN 125-29-1) ; Morphine (CAS RN 57-27-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Part Number:
  1
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bf59ceb1ebf71f8459d2c555a2a19fa93a14c22019a215c97d7ba3e57d84c6a9edc700356b43edd78d5943f266c1eda94a77ff288cd1eb495a20bd1c13fe0834
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204677/cdc_204677_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 989.45 KB ]