Polymer-fume fever associated with smoking and use of a mold-release spray containing polytetrafluoroethylene.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Albrecht, William N. ; Bryant, Charles J.
• Description:
  Three cases of polymer fume fever in a rubber and metal stamp company (SIC-3953) employing five workers were described. All three cases were related to cigarette smoking in conjunction with the use of a mold release spray containing polytetrafluoroethylene (9002840). The ages of the affected workers ranged from 24 to 51 years. All were white males with smoking histories of one to two packs of cigarettes per day. All three men were involved in using a vulcanizer press to transfer a positive image to a phenolic mold board. The mold release spray containing polytetrafluoroethylene was used to aid the release of the rubber sheet from an asbestos free composition board. Repeated flu like symptoms were experienced by all of the subjects. These included nocturnal fever, chills, malaise, backache, nonproductive cough, headache, and fatigue. The symptoms disappeared when the mold release spray was replaced by one that did not contain the polytetrafluoroethylene. The authors conclude that the symptoms have been caused by polytetrafluoroethylene induced polymer fume fever, and they recommend that nonsmoking rules be enforced in areas where fluorocarbon products are used and that adequate exhaust ventilation be employed as close to the vulcanization process as possible. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Case Reports Epidemiology Ethylenes Hazardous Substances Hydrocarbons Irritants Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Smoke Tobacco Products

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• Keywords:
  JOCMA7; NIOSH-Author; Fluorinated-hydrocarbons; Ethylenes; Occupational-exposure; Employee-health; Toxic-effects; Exposure-levels; Respiratory-irritants; Epidemiology; Tobacco-smoke; Case-studies
• ISSN:
  0096-1736
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  29
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00174913
• Citation:
  J Occup Med 1987 Oct; 29(10):817-819
• CAS Registry Number:
  Polytetrafluoroethylene (CAS RN 9002-84-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1988
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  3953 - Marking devices - (SIC)
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7dc847c09aedf140bc731323e8446b4703641ae07d6ad9e7b7238120dab30b8f7dcaa9b938d34d035f87873a0fe7fec262d5d13dcaf290925445e82b6de3b57d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/247607/cdc_247607_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.02 KB ]