Upper airway symptoms in workers employed in the manufacture of wood products using ultraviolet radiation curing or acid curing of surface coating have been reported. In this study, workers were divided into groups according to exposure: (1) UV‐surface coating line, (2) acid curing surface coating line, (3) finishing processes of UV‐cured acrylate coated products, (4) finishing processes of of both UV‐ and acid cured coated wood products, and (5) control group. The workers were examined with nasal lavage in order to investigate inflammatory signs (ECP, tryptase, albumin and microscopy with cell differential counting). UV‐line workers and finishers had significantly increased levels of ECP in nasal lavage. There was a positive correlation between exposure time and ECP and albumin levels. Workers with general nasal complaints and atopics had increased levels of ECP. In this study there were findings indicating an inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa in workers exposed to UV radiation curing multifunctional acrylate coatings. The findings indicate an unspecific inflammation and, therefore, a correlation between occupational exposure to acrylate coatings and nasal inflammation seems probable. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:392–399, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Respiratory and ocular effects from exposure to airborne contaminants in workers employed in the manufacture of wood products using ultraviolet radiation curing (UV) or acid curing (AC) of surface coating were investigated. Surface coating line or finishing workers exclusively employed in one or both processes were compared to a control group. Symptoms of exposure were investigated by questionnaire and medical examination. Nasal, pharyngeal, and ocular symptoms of discomfort, but not lower airway, were common among all exposed groups. These symptoms were most frequent in UV line workers and finishers of UV surface-coated wood products. Mucociliary clearance was significantly slower in UV line workers. Significantly higher olfaction thresholds were observed in UV line and AC line workers and finishers of UV/AC surface-coated wood products. Low levels of organic solvents and coating dusts (composed in part of wood dust, chemical composition unknown) were measured in the workers' breathing zones. Although remarkable improvements have been made in both AC and UV surface coating, additional control measures to eliminate airborne contaminants and improved work practices are required.

Symptoms of nasal, pharyngeal and ocular discomfort have been reported among workers in the wood surface-coating industry. Symptoms were reported more often by workers using ultraviolet radiation-curable acrylate coatings (UV coatings), which contain potential chemical sensitizers, than by those using acid-curing coatings. Furthermore, increased levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and albumin, but not tryptase, in nasal lavage from workers exposed to UV coatings have been observed. To further examine whether air contaminants present in the UV-coating industry are causing the observed increase in symptoms, the inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa of workers exposed to UV coatings was investigated. Clinical and biochemical endpoints were selected to distinguish between specific and non-specific hypersensitivity and to test the hypothesis that the symptoms were consistent with Type IV hypersensitivity. The nasal lavage and nasal biopsy were performed under local anesthetic at the workplace during working hours after a minimum of 2 h of work in both the exposed and control groups. Albumin and ECP, and the cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), were used as inflammatory markers. A multi-probe ribonuclease protection assay was used to attempt to detect cytokine variation in human nasal biopsies. The cytokine genes analyzed were TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, interferon-gamma, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5. L32 and GAPDH were used as control genes for mRNA expression levels. Mucosal inflammation symptoms correlated with increased levels of albumin, but not with increased levels of ECP, secreted proinflammatory cytokines or cytokine gene mRNA expression. We conclude that the symptoms are non-specific and do not correlate with occupational exposure to UV coatings under the conditions of this investigation.