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Persistent respiratory health effects after a metam sodium pesticide spill
J E Cone1, L Wugofski, J R Balmes
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Study Objective:
To report the occurrence of persistent respiratory disorders, including irritant-induced asthma, among adults living and working near an environmental spill of the pesticide, metam sodium, after the derailment of a tank car.
Design:
Retrospective clinical case series.
Setting:
California communities situated within one-half mile of the Sacramento River, from Mt. Shasta City to Shasta Lake.
Patients:
197 adults referred to a university occupational/environmental health clinic or to a private occupational/environmental health practitioner for evaluation of health problems potentially related to the spill.
Measurements And Results:
History, physical examination, review of medical records, spirometry, and methacholine challenge testing revealed 20 cases of persistent irritant-induced asthma and 10 cases of persistent exacerbation of asthma.
Conclusions:
This is the first reported series of cases of persistent irritant-induced asthma involving both community residents and occupationally exposed individuals.