Reference

BOHRF Original Authors' Main Conclusions

The original authors' main conclusions are taken from Abstract, Results and Discussion. They are decided upon by the authors of the BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines and form part of the guidelines.

The prevalence of work-related wheeze and breathlessness was measured in factory employees manufacturing flux-cored solder containing colophony. Measurement of colophony in the breathing zone defined three grades of exposure with median levels of 1.92 mg/m3 (6 subjects), 0.02 mg/m3 (14 subjects), and less than 0.01 mg/m3 (68 subjects). All but 2 workers in the first 2 groups, and 90% of a random sample of the last group, were studied. Occupational asthma was present in 21% of the higher 2 exposure groups and 4% of the lowest exposure group. Mean values of FEV1 and FVC fell with increasing exposure. Total IgM levels were higher in the solder manufacturers than in unexposed controls. Survey suggests that sensitisation will not be prevented unless exposure is kept well below present threshold limit value.

BOHRF Associated Evidence Statements

The BOHRF occupational asthma guidelines state that this reference is associated with the following evidence statements