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Occupational asthma due to benzyl benzoate exposure
W T W Loo1, V P X Lien2, L Y M Leong2
1Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169856, Singapore.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|August 5, 2026
Summary
This case study highlights occupational asthma linked to benzyl benzoate exposure during laboratory slide cleaning. It suggests benzyl benzoate may play a role in occupational asthma, despite limited prior evidence.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Occupational asthma literature concerning benzyl benzoate is limited.
- Benzyl benzoate is known as a respiratory irritant with scarce evidence of its role in asthma.
- A 50-year-old male laboratory worker developed asthma symptoms after 29 years of employment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a case of suspected occupational asthma.
- To explore the potential role of benzyl benzoate in the development of asthma.
- To document the relationship between slide cleaning activities and respiratory symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a laboratory worker with new-onset asthma.
- Spirometry and methacholine challenge testing were performed.
- Serial peak expiratory flow measurements were conducted during work and off-work periods.
Main Results:
- Asthma symptoms onset 15 minutes after slide cleaning, improving with work absence.
- Methacholine challenge revealed bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
- Peak expiratory flow showed increased variability correlating with slide cleaning activities.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest benzyl benzoate in immersion oil may be implicated in occupational asthma.
- This case contributes to the limited evidence on benzyl benzoate's role in respiratory conditions.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate benzyl benzoate's asthmatic potential.
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