Research Plus

Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome

A systematic literature review to identify agents associated with reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS) – asthma-like symptoms occurring within 24 hours of a single, high concentration exposure to a gas, fume, smoke or vapour – found a lack of adequate information on exposure, investigation and, in particular, outcome of reported cases. From 69 papers, 63 cases met the definition of RADS. The most common agents were chlorine, toluene diisocyanate, oxides of nitrogen, acetic acid, sulphur dioxide and paint. Symptoms occurred within one hour in 29 patients and within 24 hours in 34 patients. The establishment of a web-based RADS database is suggested to improve information flow.

Occupational Medicine 2008; 58: 205–211.  http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/58/3/205.abstract

Tags evidence based practice hazardous substances

Occupational Health at Work June/July 2008 (vol. 05/1) pp34