IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIONS IN PENICILLIN FACTORY-WORKERS

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  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 36  (5) , 313-323
Abstract
Employees (169) of a synthetic penicillin plant participated in this study to correlate immunologic reactions, allergic symptomatology and dustiness of the work area. Statistically significant positive correlations existed among the following: presence or absence of symptomatology and increasing dustiness of the work area; presence or absence of symptoms and the presence or absence of benzyl-penicilloyl (BPO) specific hemagglutinating antibody; the absence, presence and level of BPO-specific antibody with the dustiness of the work area. Because synthetic penicillin dust in the workroom air can evoke immunologic responses and produce symptoms among workers exposed to high levels, a reasonable air level for pencillin in factories should be in the range of those demonstrated in the least symptomatic group in the study with measurements below 0.1 mg/m3.