1. Asthmatic symptoms have been reported in workers following occupational exposure to certain low molecular ratio chemicals. 2. A small number of workers involved in the initial manufacture of a new low temperature bleach activating chemical,
sodium iso-nonanoyl oxybenzene sulphonate (
SINOS) developed rashes,
rhinitis and
conjunctivitis following exposure to the compound. One worker also developed
asthma. An investigative study was undertaken to examine the possible asthmatic effects of inhaling
SINOS in naive non-asthmatic and asthmatic subjects handling the material in the laboratory setting. 3. Since
SINOS has a similar chemical structure to
aspirin, it was hypothesized that
SINOS-associated
asthma might be elicited by a mechanism similar to the mechanism associated with
aspirin asthma. Therefore
aspirin-sensitive asthmatics were also included in the study. 4. No adverse respiratory reactions were observed in the non-asthmatic subjects or in the
aspirin and non-
aspirin-sensitive patient volunteers following exposure to
SINOS dust at atmospheric concentrations of up to 36.3 micrograms m-3. 5. Skin prick tests to increasing concentrations of
SINOS were carried out in all subjects. No positive reactions were observed on any occasion. 6. This study indicates that
SINOS does not elicit
asthma via a mechanism similar to
aspirin. Additionally, the study suggests that the addition of
SINOS to washing
powder will not cause significant respiratory reactions in consumers even if they are asthmatic or intolerant to
aspirin.