Pulmonary reactions to chemicals in the workplace

Employees exposed to reactive chemicals found in the work environment can develop a multitude of immunologic pulmonary responses. These include occupational asthma and/or rhinitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (also known as extrinsic allergic alveolitis), and hemorrhagic pneumonitis. The mechanisms of these disease processes will be described, as will the management of these conditions. Trimellitic anhydride (TMA) will then be used as an example of a reactive chemical in a discussion of the different disease mechanisms.