Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 153, No. 3, Mar 1996, 948-952.
Increased bronchial responsiveness in workers sawing Scots pine
PO Malmberg, A Rask-Andersen, KA Larsson, N Stjernberg, BM Sundblad and K Eriksson
National Institute of Occupational Health, Solna, Sweden.
The purpose of the present investigation was to study bronchial
responsiveness and pulmonary function in Swedish sawmill workers, who are
not exposed to plicatic acid, the sensitizer in red wood cedar asthma.
Bronchial responsiveness, transfer factor, spirometry, and precipitating
antibodies in serum against sawmill fungi were measured in 164 workers at
five sawmills. The results from workers inside the sawing area (sawyers,
n=59), in the trimming department (trimmers, n=66), and from other workers
in the sawmill (sawyer-referents, n=39) were compared. Sawyers had higher
bronchial responsiveness than referents. In 55% of the sawyers FEV1
decreased by 20% or more within the highest dose of methacholine compared
with 31% of sawyer-referents and 41% of trimmers (p<0.01,
sawyers/referents). Sawyers decreased 74% more in FEV1 per milligram of
inhaled methacholine compared with referents (geometric means, p<0.01).
The transfer test in never-smokers was 13% lower in sawyers than in
trimmers (p<0.01) and 8% lower compared with sawyer-referents
(nonsignificant p<0.1). Presence of precipitating antibodies was not
associated with changes in pulmonary function. Some agents in the sawing
area of sawmills appear to increase bronchial responsiveness and decrease
diffusion capacity.
