Asthma due to inhaled chemical agents—complex salts of platinum

Abstract

Summary Sixteen workers, from a platinum refinery, with respiratory disease were tested with solutions of complex salts of platinum and ten gave immediate prick test reactions to concentrations of 10 −4 −10 −6 and immediate nasal reactions in seven out of eleven tested to concentrations of 10 3 −10 −8 . Occupational‐type exposure inhalation tests to the dust from mixtures of 40 mg of the platinum salt with 1 kg of lactose gave immediate asthmatic reactions in eight and in one of these a late reaction, all also giving immediate prick test reactions. The asthmatic reactions were inhibited by disodium cromoglycate. In two with negative prick tests, late asthmatic reactions were elicited. The occupational‐type exposure test provides a safe, acceptable procedure for etiological diagnosis.