Small Airway-Centered Granulomatosis Caused by Long-term Exposure to Polytetrafluoroethylene

Pneumoconiosis in a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) spray worker: a case report with an occupational hygiene study

“…This is a case report of small airway-centered granulomatosis caused by PTFE particles from the spraying process with a description of the air concentration of PTFE in a workplace. The patient was diagnosed with granulomatous lung disease from PTFE using CT and lung pathology and electron microscopic findings, which are compatible with a previously reported case [ 8 ]. We confirmed the presence of PTFE particles in the lung tissue by SEM and EDX of lung tissue.…”

“…Acute pulmonary toxicity due to fluorocarbon-containing aerosol spray has been reported [ 14 ] from various work processes, such as those of waterproof leather, fabric spray, floor-stain protector, rust-proofing spray, grout sealer, and ski wax [ 15 – 18 ]. Choi et al reported for the first time chronic pulmonary granulomatosis associated with exposure to PTFE [ 8 ]. The spraying process and aerosolized PTFE were excluded as the cause of small airway-centered granulomatosis because of the stability of PTFE in a liquid formulation [ 8 ].…”

“…Choi et al reported for the first time chronic pulmonary granulomatosis associated with exposure to PTFE [ 8 ]. The spraying process and aerosolized PTFE were excluded as the cause of small airway-centered granulomatosis because of the stability of PTFE in a liquid formulation [ 8 ]. However, nondegraded PTFE can induce an immunologic reaction in body tissue.…”

“…Fluorocarbon-containing aerosol product exposure due to spraying can also cause acute lung injury [ 5 – 7 ]. Chronic lung disease found in PTFE-spraying workers has been reported [ 8 ]. However, the pathophysiology of PTFE particle-induced chronic lung disease has not been reported.…”

Occupational Lung Disease Caused by Exposure to Polytetrafluoroethylene

“…As the distribution of fluorine was found widely in this case, we considered chronic exposure to PTFE to have caused the granulomatous lesions. Recent reports from Korea have described several cases of chronic granulomatous pulmonary lesions related to PTFE inhalation, similar to our case ( 6 , 7 ). Lee et al reported the size of PTFE particles (1-22 μm) from air sampling of the work environment, which corresponded to the PTFE particle size used in the spraying process ( 6 ).…”