Review of trimellitic anhydride (TMA) induced respiratory response

Acid anhydrides such as trimellitic anhydride (TMA) are of interest due to their important industrial uses and to their adverse health effects in exposed populations. Important industrial uses of TMA include the production of epoxy and alkyd resins used to manufacture a variety of coating materials. The adverse health effects are a result of its direct irritant effects on mucosal surfaces in all exposed humans as well as its ability to cause immunologic sensitization in a small proportion of humans. In those individuals who are immimologically sensitized, reexposure to TMA can result in well described immunologic syndromes: asthma-rhinitis, late respiratory systemic syndrome (LRSS), and very rarely pulmonary disease anemia syndrome (PDA). In summary, adverse health effects of TMA are due to its effects as an irritant, an immunologic sensitizer, or a combination of both.