Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Due to Metalworking Fluid Aerosols

Abstract

Metalworking fluid exposure has become the commonest recognised cause of occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis, having been rare before 2000. There are many possible agents in the metalworking fluid which may be the cause of disease including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungae, biocides, emulsifiers, reodorants and dissolved chrome and cobalt. Causes are likely to be different in different outbreaks. Mycobacteria growing in the metalworking fluid have generated immune responses in some workers, but their role in disease causation is not yet established. Many outbreaks have been identified in large workplaces using common sumps. It is not possible to prevent microbial contamination of metalworking fluids in use. Disease prevention should focus on stopping inhalation of aerosols, particularly by re-engineering to remove recirculation.

Methanosphaera stadtmanae induces a type IV hypersensitivity response in a mouse model of airway inflammation

“…), workers in various environments are still regularly diagnosed with occupational lung hypersensitivity diseases such as asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) (Baldassarre et al. ; Burge ; Cushen et al. ; Gao and Li ; Kraim‐Leleu et al.…”

“…To date, despite treatments and avoidance/prevention measures (Jolly et al 2015;Cano-Jimenez et al 2016;Suojalehto et al 2016), workers in various environments are still regularly diagnosed with occupational lung hypersensitivity diseases such as asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) (Baldassarre et al 2016;Burge 2016;Cushen et al 2016;Gao and Li 2016;Kraim-Leleu et al 2016). The struggle in preventing these occupational diseases stems from the presence of unknown antigens, including microorganisms, in environmental bioaerosols and their unknown potential to elicit an inflammatory response in the lung.…”

Evaluation of exposures and respiratory health concerns in a paper converting equipment manufacturing facility.

“…In addition, the majority of hypersensitivity pneumonitis outbreaks have occurred in facilities where air sampling results for metalworking fluids were within exposure limits [Burge 2016].…”

Quorum sensing inhibition as a promising method to control biofilm growth in metalworking fluids

“…Microbial contamination of MWFs is a fundamental problem, affecting the quality of the product, the lifetime of MWFs [13,48], and potentially increasing occupational safety risks [6].…”