[Occupational asthma caused by ebony wood]. / Asthme professionnel au bois d'ébène.

ABSTRACT

A case of occupational asthma to ebony wood dust is described in a violin and stringed instrument maker, who was sanding and filing ebony to make the finger boards of violins and cellos. The diagnosis was confirmed using a realistic provocation test; after sanding and smoothing the ebony for 20 minutes the patient developed bronchial spasm with fall of the force expired volume in one second (VMS) of 45% which was reversible following the inhalation of beta 2 agonists. A delayed reaction was seen at 3 hours and 6 hours and at 20 hours after the test. The observations of occupational asthma or rhinitis to ebony wood are very rare. To our knowledge there are two publications at the present time. It has been recognised as an occupational disease (see table 47 of occupational diseases) and an exclusion order has been effected.