Prevalence of Occupational Asthma among Workers Exposed to Eastern White Cedar

We assessed the prevalence of occupational asthma among current (n = 29/31, 94%) and former (n = 13/49, 27%) employees of a sawmill in which eastern white cedar has been made into shingles during the past 3 yr. All participants answered a respiratory questionnaire, and all except one underwent spirometry and methacholine inhalation tests. All those with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (PC20 methacholine < or = 19 mg/ml) were invited to undergo specific inhalation challenges. Mean duration of exposure was 13 mo (19 workers > 12 mo). Twenty-eight workers (65%) reported a history compatible with asthma, and 25 (58%) had symptoms that were suggestive of occupational asthma. Only two subjects had significant airway obstruction (FEV1 < 80% pred) (mean value = 98% pred). Eighteen subjects (42%) had a PC20 < or = 16 mg/ml. Specific inhalation tests with plicatic acid and/or western red cedar (which contains twice as much plicatic acid as eastern white cedar), were done on 12 subjects who had a PC20 < or = 16 mg/ml when they were assessed. Three subjects were considered to have positive tests (one had an isolated immediate reaction, one had a late reaction, and one had significant changes in PC20 each time he was exposed but no changes in FEV1). Environmental monitoring showed concentrations of total dusts above 2 mg/m3 in half of the samples. The prevalence of occupational asthma in this workplace was three of 42 participants (7%) or at least three of 80 (3.8%) of all current or ex-workers. This is comparable to the prevalence of occupational asthma in subjects exposed to western red cedar.