Occupational asthma from colophony

Hi, I've just read some information on the Oasys and Occupational Asthma website, on colophony fume that I believe is attributed to you, and hope that you may be able to answer a question. Can you tell me if anyone has specified colophony fume ? All I seem to see is mention of resin acids, yet there is no mention of their chemical identity. Do you have any idea of what resin acids we are typically finding, or can you help by pointing me in the right direction ? I would be most grateful.

Occupational Asthma, Specialist, 2/20/2006, 3/8/2011,

Colophony fume is complicated, but in my opinion it is the resin acid components which are the likely cause of occupational asthma. This opinion is based on reduced reactions in sensitised individuals when the carboxyl group is esterified (Clinical Allergy 1980;10:137-149), the elicitation of occupational asthma in one individual when grinding unheated colophony (Thorax 1986;41:708), and the fact that cold colophony is a major cause of contact dermatitis. The content of the fume depends on the source of the colophony (from tapped distilled pine resin (gum rosin), extracted from stumps of pine trees (wood rosin) or left over from paper manufacture (tall oil); the temperature to which it is heated (more resins acids at 400oC than 200oC). It also depends on the type of pine tree (American, Portuguese etc). The best analysis of the content of the fume is in the reference below, which has a method for measurement. Pengelly MI, Groves JA, Foster RD, Ellwood PA, Wagg RM, Development of a method for measuring exposure to resin acids in solder fume, Ann Occup Hyg, 1994;38:765-776, Colophony (Solder)

2/20/2006

Hi further to the above, I note your comments in relation to colophony fumes, however, what is your knowledge of occupational asthma in individuals who have worked with non-colophony ("Rosin-Free")solders? Would you be able to direct me towards any articles or studies on the same? I would be very grateful for any help.

8/31/2006

This reference describes a case of occupational asthma from a non-colophony solder. Convery RP, Ward RJ, Hendrick DJ, Occupational asthma due to a widely used soft solder flux not containing colophony, Eur Respir J, 1997;10:238-240,

9/29/2006

This is our agent page on non colophony solder Non-Colophony Solder

3/8/2011