Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review
Abstract Background The olfactory bulb is anatomically exposed and thus can be directly damaged by external stimulation. This can occur as an occupational injury owing to contact with organic solvents or other causes. We present cases of eight patients who sustained occupation-related exposure to po...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40557-018-0230-3 |
| _version_ | 1811180665873367040 |
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| author | Soon Woo Park Young Joong Kang Huisu Eom Hyun-Jin Cho Jungho Ahn Sang-Gil Lee |
| author_facet | Soon Woo Park Young Joong Kang Huisu Eom Hyun-Jin Cho Jungho Ahn Sang-Gil Lee |
| author_sort | Soon Woo Park |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The olfactory bulb is anatomically exposed and thus can be directly damaged by external stimulation. This can occur as an occupational injury owing to contact with organic solvents or other causes. We present cases of eight patients who sustained occupation-related exposure to potentially toxic substances and later presented with signs and symptoms of anosmia. We examined the occupational and medical characteristics of the patients and evaluated their work-relatedness. Case presentation Case 1: A 50-year-old man performed high-frequency heat treatments for approximately 11 years. He experienced decreased senses for olfaction and taste during the later years culminating in the diagnosis of anosmia after 3 years (high work-relatedness). Case 2: A 54-year-old man whose work involved exposure to various organic solvents, such as spray painting and application of paint and thinners for approximately 4 years, was subsequently diagnosed with anosmia based on rhinorrhea, headache, and loss of olfaction (high work-relatedness). Case 3: A 44-year-old-man who performed spray painting for approximately 17 years developed anosmia (high work-relatedness). Case 4: A 44-year-old man was involved in ship engine cleaning once a month, for approximately 7 h per cleaning session; he was diagnosed with anosmia based on loss of olfaction (low work-relatedness). Case 5: A 41-year-old man worked in ship building block construction for approximately 13 years; anosmia diagnosis was based on loss of olfaction (low work-relatedness). Case 6: A 47-year-old woman performed product inspection and labeling at a plant manufacturing automobile parts; anosmia diagnosis was based on decreased olfaction and taste (low work-relatedness). Case 7: A 50-year-old woman performed epoxy coating in a plant manufacturing automobile parts; anosmia diagnosis was based on diminishing olfaction (low work-relatedness). Case 8: A 57-year-old woman performed cleaning of the area where mobile phone parts were manufactured; anosmia diagnosis was based on diminishing olfaction (low work-relatedness). Conclusion The study results confirmed work-relatedness when the subject was young, and the duration of exposure was long without any other cause of anosmia. Regarding compensation for occupational diseases, work-relatedness can be recognized as a relative concept. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:05:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36ece75985e04180a294b470fb0b0ada |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-4374 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:05:55Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-36ece75985e04180a294b470fb0b0ada2022-12-22T04:32:37ZengKorean Society of Occupational & Environmental MedicineAnnals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine2052-43742018-03-013011810.1186/s40557-018-0230-3Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and reviewSoon Woo Park0Young Joong Kang1Huisu Eom2Hyun-Jin Cho3Jungho Ahn4Sang-Gil Lee5Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health AgencyOccupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health AgencyOccupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health AgencyDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Gyeongsang National University HospitalOccupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health AgencyOccupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health AgencyAbstract Background The olfactory bulb is anatomically exposed and thus can be directly damaged by external stimulation. This can occur as an occupational injury owing to contact with organic solvents or other causes. We present cases of eight patients who sustained occupation-related exposure to potentially toxic substances and later presented with signs and symptoms of anosmia. We examined the occupational and medical characteristics of the patients and evaluated their work-relatedness. Case presentation Case 1: A 50-year-old man performed high-frequency heat treatments for approximately 11 years. He experienced decreased senses for olfaction and taste during the later years culminating in the diagnosis of anosmia after 3 years (high work-relatedness). Case 2: A 54-year-old man whose work involved exposure to various organic solvents, such as spray painting and application of paint and thinners for approximately 4 years, was subsequently diagnosed with anosmia based on rhinorrhea, headache, and loss of olfaction (high work-relatedness). Case 3: A 44-year-old-man who performed spray painting for approximately 17 years developed anosmia (high work-relatedness). Case 4: A 44-year-old man was involved in ship engine cleaning once a month, for approximately 7 h per cleaning session; he was diagnosed with anosmia based on loss of olfaction (low work-relatedness). Case 5: A 41-year-old man worked in ship building block construction for approximately 13 years; anosmia diagnosis was based on loss of olfaction (low work-relatedness). Case 6: A 47-year-old woman performed product inspection and labeling at a plant manufacturing automobile parts; anosmia diagnosis was based on decreased olfaction and taste (low work-relatedness). Case 7: A 50-year-old woman performed epoxy coating in a plant manufacturing automobile parts; anosmia diagnosis was based on diminishing olfaction (low work-relatedness). Case 8: A 57-year-old woman performed cleaning of the area where mobile phone parts were manufactured; anosmia diagnosis was based on diminishing olfaction (low work-relatedness). Conclusion The study results confirmed work-relatedness when the subject was young, and the duration of exposure was long without any other cause of anosmia. Regarding compensation for occupational diseases, work-relatedness can be recognized as a relative concept.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40557-018-0230-3Olfactory disorderOccupational diseaseAnosmiaWork-relatedness |
| spellingShingle | Soon Woo Park Young Joong Kang Huisu Eom Hyun-Jin Cho Jungho Ahn Sang-Gil Lee Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Olfactory disorder Occupational disease Anosmia Work-relatedness |
| title | Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review |
| title_full | Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review |
| title_fullStr | Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review |
| title_short | Work-related olfactory disorder: a case series and review |
| title_sort | work related olfactory disorder a case series and review |
| topic | Olfactory disorder Occupational disease Anosmia Work-relatedness |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40557-018-0230-3 |
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