Immunologic reactions in penicillin factory workers.

One hundred sixty-nine employees of a synthetic penicillin plant participated in this study to correlate immunologic reactions, allergic symptomatology and dustiness of the work area. Statistically significant positive correlations existed among the following: (1)presence or absence of symptomatology and increasing dustiness of the work area; (2)presence or absence of symptoms and the presence or absence of benzyl-penicilloyl specific hemagglutinating antibody (BPO-specific antibody); (3)the absence, presence and level of titer of BPO-specific antibody with the dustiness of the work area. Because synthetic penicillin dust in the workroom air is able to evoke immunologic responses and produce symptoms among workers exposed to high levels, it is recommended that a reasonable air level for penicillin in factories be in the range of those demonstrated in the least symptomatic group in the study with measurements below 0.1 mg/m3.