Unprotected persons should avoid all contact with materials classified as respiratory sensitizers or asthmagens. Once sensitization has occurred, the best option is complete removal from the work environment. Deaths have occurred when sensitized persons continued to work in an environment where they were exposed to very small amounts of asthmagens. A relationship between exposure to the chemical and development of respiratory sensitivity must be demonstrated. Asthmatic symptoms would include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, constriction of the airways.
Smoking history is considered a possible contributing or causal factor.
The agent is related to chemical families known to produce occupational asthma e.g. isocyanates, acid anhydrides. Many case reports do not contain enough information for regulatory evaluation. Therefore, one must often take a balanced view of all of the information available and make the best scientific judgement possible. At present, recognized, validated animal models for respiratory sensitization are not available.