Formation of new blood vessels in the nose after exposure to dicumylperoxide at a chemical plant.

Abstract

Eighteen workers exposed to dicumylperoxide in a chemical plant were subjected to examination of the nose by rhinoscopy, mucociliary function test and rhinomanometry. Eight other workers at the plant and 20 hospital workers were used as controls. The mucociliary function and nasal air flow were the same in subjects exposed and those not exposed to peroxide. Nine of the workers exposed to dicumylperoxide had visible blood vessels in the mucosa on the anterior part of the nasal septum. Only 2 persons in the other groups had visible blood vessels. Both had a common cold at the time of the examination. The possibility that dicumylperoxide may initiate formation of new blood vessels is discussed. To test this hypothesis, experiments on laboratory animals will be done with airborne dust containing peroxides.