Popcorn Lung: the Discovery of a New Disease

Lung Diseases, Interstitial Clinical Trial

Official title:

Popcorn Lung: the Discovery of a New Disease

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00027235
• Other study ID #: NCRR-M01RR00036-0829
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: November 28, 2001
• Last updated: June 23, 2005

Study information

• Verified date: December 2003
• Source: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Federal Government
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Recently, an epidemic of pulmonary disease has been recognized among workers in a popcorn factory in Jasper, Missouri. The exposure agent has not yet been identified, but suspects include butter flavoring and the powdered salt used in the mixing room. This disease resembles "Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome", an illness that makes it difficult to breathe. Of the 117 workers studied, one year later, 25 subjects whom were working in the mixing room or in the microwave packaging area have had decreases in lung function seven times the norm for their age. Industrial hygiene experts revealed that dust concentrations of salt and other flavorings were much higher in the mixing room compared to the office and outdoor work areas. Recently, rats were exposed to vapors created by heating the butter flavor compound obtained from this plant. Six-hour exposure to vapors at very high concentration resulted in significant damage to the breathing apparatus. Thus, there is clinical, epidemiological, and animal toxicity data that appears to implicate some constituent present during the mixing of the butter flavoring, salt, and oil causing a form of obstructive airway disease that has been rapidly progressive in a number of workers. It is not clear what the pathophysiologic nature of this entity is, though it resembles Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome. It is not known what the long term consequence of this will be on the active workers, nor is it clear whether preventive measures taken to reduce exposures in the mixing room and elsewhere in the plant are going to be effective.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 0
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Current employees who have a decline in FEV1 larger than 200cc within the past year will be eligible to participate. All index cases will be eligible to participate.

Study Design

Observational Model: Defined Population, Time Perspective: Longitudinal

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Bronchiolitis
• Bronchiolitis Obliterans
• Lung Diseases
• Lung Diseases, Interstitial

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Washington University, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine	St. Louis	Missouri

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States,