Abstract
BACKGROUND: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in concentrations found in both the work and home environments may influence lung function. We investigated the prevalence of airway responsiveness in workers exposed to VOCs. METHODS: We used allergic skin tests, nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness testing and questionnaires to study twenty exposed workers and twenty-seven control subjects. Atopy was defined as a reactor who showed > 3+ response to one or more allergens on the skin prick tests. Airway hyperresponsiveness (BRindex) was defined as log [% fall of FEV1/log (last concentration of methacholine) +10]. RESULTS: The VOC exposed workers, in comparison with the control subjects, tended to have a higher BRindex (1.19 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.15 +/- 0.08, respectively). Workers exposed to VOCs with atopy or smoker, as compared with the workers exposed to VOCs with non-atopy and who were non-smokers and the control subjects with non-atopy and who were non-smokers, had a significantly higher BRindex (1.20 +/- 0.05 vs. 1.14 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.10 +/- 0.03, respectively p < 0.05). The BRindex was not correlated with atopy, the smoking status or the duration of VOC exposure. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that VOCs may act as a contributing factor of airway hyperresponsiveness in workers exposed to VOCs.