Occupational Lung Condition Reported In Medical Journal

A recent report in the medical journal, Thorax, has found that a 36 year old factory worker in the UK has developed a chronic lung condition called bronchiolitis obliterans or constrictive bronchiolitis.  The most likely cause of the condition was believed to be exposure to a food flavouring ingredient called diacetyl.  This was thought to be the first British example of this condition.

Diacetyl has been used in this country as a flavouring ingredient for potato crisps.  However, the condition gained its name, “popcorn worker’s lung,” after workers in an American factory that manufactured microwaveable popcorn developed lung problems.  A medical paper has also suggested that four Dutch workers at a chemical factory have also developed the condition. 

The author of the article, Professor Hendrick, from the Royal Victoria Infirmary and University of Newcastle upon Tyne, suggests that the condition may be more widespread than generally thought and may occur in relation to other settings in addition to popcorn.  On that basis, the professor suggests that a more appropriate name for the condition may be “food flavourer’s lung.”

John Pickering and Partners LLP

John Pickering and Partners LLP is a specialist legal practice that represents industrial disease and accident victims in their claims for compensation for their personal injuries.  Click here for more information about occupational asthma and case studies of successful occupational asthma claims.

If you need advice about making a claim for occupational asthma or another respiratory illness caused by your work, contact us now for information about claiming compensation.

Further information:
Kevin Johnson, Partner
John Pickering and Partners LLP
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