Sector: -cross sectoral-

Type of hazard: work-related health hazards, dangerous substances

Catchwords: working environment (loads, hazards, exposure, risks), chemical working substances, risk assessment

Status: under way since 01/2004

Financed by: Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften (HVBG)

Research institution(s): Berufsgenossenschaftliches Forschungsinstitut für Arbeitsmedizin (BGFA)

Description, key words:

Various occupational substances are able to induce obstructive respiratory diseases and have irritative and bothering effects. Aim of the project is to distinguish between irritative, bothering and allergic effects of workplace-related hazardous substances. Cellular and humoral changes are detected by means of nasal lavage and nasal brushing. Even induced sputum and breath exhalate are also suitable.

Aims:

Various substances used at workplaces like isocyanates, acid anhydrides, platinum salts, hairdresser substances, solvents, ammonia, tertiary amines, acrylates are able to induce obstructive respiratory lung diseases or they lead to irritative and disturbing effects. The knowledge of their pathomechanisms may lead to an improvement of the diagnostic of obstructive respiratory diseases.

Activities/methods:

Cell material obtained from the nasal mucosa (nasal lavage, nasal brushing), induction and analysis of sputum, breath condensate analysis; determination of cell populations by diffential cytology, quantification of soluble factors like cytokines, neuropeptides after exposure with occupational hazardous substances

e-mail: raulf-heimsoth@bgfa.ruhr-uni-bochum.de

last update: 10.8.2004