Respiratory function and symptoms: an environmental-epidemiological study of rubber workers exposed to a phenolformaldehyde type resin.

Rubber workers exposed to a hexamethylenetetramine-resorcinol (HR) adhesive system reported an excess of acute symptoms and significant reductions in expiratory flow rates at low lung volumes. Smokers exhibited greater reductions in flow rates than nonsmokers. The greatest reductions in ventilatory capacity were associated with HR exposure. There was a moderate association of reduced flow rates with respirable particulate in the HR exposed workers only.