Occupational exposure to diisocyanates in polyurethane foam factory workers

• Authors: Dominika Świerczyńska-Machura , Sławomir Brzeźnicki , Ewa Nowakowska-Świrta , Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa , Tomasz Wittczak , Wojciech Dudek , Marzena Bonczarowska , Wiktor Wesolowski , Sławomir Czerczak , Cezary Pałczyński

Abstracts

EN

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate health effects of occupational exposure to diisocyanates (DIC) among polyurethane foam products factory workers. Material and Methods Thirty workers had a physical examination, skin prick tests with common allergens, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to diisocyanates and pulmonary function tests. Concentrations of selected isocyanates in the workplace air samples as well as concentration of their metabolites in the urine samples collected from the workers of the plant were determined. Results The most frequent work-related symptoms reported by the examined subjects were rhinitis and skin symptoms. Sensitization to at least 1 common allergen was noted in 26.7% of the subjects. Spirometry changes of bronchial obstruction of a mild degree was observed in 5 workers. The specific IgE antibodies to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 4,4’-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) were not detected in any of the patients’ serum. Cellular profiles of the collected induced sputum (ISP) did not reveal any abnormalities. Air concentrations of TDI isomers ranged 0.2–58.9 μg/m³ and in 7 cases they exceeded the Combined Exposure Index (CEI) value for those compounds. Concentrations of TDI metabolites in post-shift urine samples were significantly higher than in the case of pre-shift urine samples and in 6 cases they exceeded the British Biological Monitoring Guidance Value (BMGV – 1 μmol amine/mol creatinine). We didn’t find a correlation between urinary concentrations of TDI, concentrations in the air and concentrations of toluenediamine (TDA) in the post shift urine samples. Lack of such a correlation may be an effect of the respiratory protective equipment use. Conclusions Determination of specific IgE in serum is not sensitive enough to serve as a biomarker. Estimation of concentrations of diisocyanate metabolites in urine samples and the presence of work-related allergic symptoms seem to be an adequate method for occupational exposure monitoring of DIC, which may help to determine workers at risk as well as to recognize hazardous workplaces.

Keywords

EN

biomarkers; diisocyanates; asthma; polyurethanes; biological monitoring; occupational exposure; occupational diseases

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 985-998

Dates

published

2015

Contributors

author

Dominika Świerczyńska-Machura

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology)

author

Sławomir Brzeźnicki

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety)

author

Ewa Nowakowska-Świrta

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology)

author

Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology)

author

Tomasz Wittczak

• The Regional Centre for Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland

author

Wojciech Dudek

• Dr Karol Jonscher City Hospital, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Medicine)

author

Marzena Bonczarowska

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety)

author

Wiktor Wesolowski

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety)

author

Sławomir Czerczak

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety)

author

Cezary Pałczyński

• Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00284

Biblioteka Nauki

2177097