Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia Due to Titanium Nanoparticles in Paint

We present a case of a 58-year-old man who experienced Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia after a 3-month exposure to polyester powder paint. Mineralogical analysis by transmission electron microscopy of a pulmonary sample and the polyester powder paint he was exposed to showed the presence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in both. We suggest that exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles should be added to the etiology of Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. (Ann Thorac Surg 2012;93:666-9) (C) 2012 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons