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Occupational Medicine Advance Access published online on May 29, 2009
Occupational Medicine, doi:10.1093/occmed/kqp080
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Case Report

Occupational asthma due to exposure to chengal wood dust

Lay Tin Lee1 and Keng Leong Tan2

1 Occupational Safety and Health Division, Ministry of Manpower, Block C, Kim Seng Road, Singapore 239436, Singapore
2 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608, Singapore

Background Chengal is a resistant rainforest hardwood that is commonly used in South-East Asia for the construction of boats, bridges, house structures and furniture. It contains oligostilbenoids, phenolics, quinones and resins.

Aims To describe a case of occupational asthma (OA) related to chengal wood dust.

Methods The patient was evaluated clinically for asthma in relation to occupational history, serial peak flow monitoring and specific inhalation challenge (SIC) test.

Results Peak flow monitoring showed significant deterioration during exposure to chengal wood dust at work. SIC test resulted in an isolated immediate asthmatic reaction.

Conclusions Exposure to chengal wood dust can lead to OA and possibly rhinitis. The underlying mechanism should be investigated.

Keywords      Dust; occupational allergy; occupational asthma; rhinitis

Correspondence to: Keng Leong Tan, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore 169608. Tel: +65 6321 4700 or 65-6321-4685; fax: +65 6227 1736; e-mail: tan.keng.leong{at}sgh.com.sg


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