Five cases of "fluoride asthma" [Osservazione di cinque casi di asma da fluoro]

Abstract Five cases of bronchial asthma in aluminium potroom workers with no previous occupational exposure to respiratory irritants, no history of asthma or other respiratory - heart disease are described. The first attack of asthma occurred on average 1.5 years (7 to 36 months) after the subjects had started work in the potrooms and the symptoms appeared both at the time of exposure as well as after a work shift. In 4 cases, symptoms disappeared completely within a week of being transferred from the potroom; only one worker still suffered from occasional wheezing after a year. Two subjects had positive skin tests for common allergens. Six to 24 months after cessation of exposure, all workers had normal lung volumes but they showed high sensitivity to a bronchial provocation test with inhaled carbachol. On the basis of the patients' histories and clinical and respiratory function findings, it is concluded that a causal relationship exists betweet potroom work and the onset of asthma.