Occupational asthma in a pesticides manufacturing worker

A 34-year-old chemical manufacturing worker had new onset of work-related asthma after several years of exposure to the fungicide, captafol. On specific bronchial challenge testing, he demonstrated a marked and persistent fall in FEV1. Cessation of exposure resulted in improved symptoms and pulmonary function. The delay in symptoms after several years of workplace exposure and the dual reaction demonstrated on specific bronchial challenge testing suggest sensitization to some component of technical-grade captafol, but an IgE response was not detected.