Respiratory and Immunologic Evaluation of Isocyanate Exposure in a New Manufacturing Plant.
Authors
Weill-H; Salvaggio-J; Ziskind-M; Jones-RN; Diem-J; Butcher-B; Carr-J; Glindmeyer-H; Dharmarajan-V
Source
NIOSH 1977 Jun:27 pages
Abstract
The respiratory health of workers exposed to toluene-diisocyanate (26471625) (TDI), and the mechanisms by which respiratory effects occurred were investigated. The ongoing 3 year study collected three types of data: symptom information from interviews, spirometric data, and diffusion data. Compared to workers who were not exposed to TDI, exposed workers had a significantly greater likelihood of becoming symptomatic for upper and lower respiratory symptoms and bronchitis. In tests of pulmonary function, there was no significant difference between exposure categories with respect to flow rate, volume, or diffusing capacity. Immunological tests revealed that two TDI sensitive individuals were reactive to 0.005 parts per million TDI. TDI decreased the stimulation of lymphocyte c-Adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) concentrations by the receptor agonists isoproterenol and prostaglandin-E1. TDI by itself stimulated cAMP production. Personal monitoring identified average exposures ranging from 0.002 to 0.007 parts per million TDI. Peak exposures occurred randomly and there was no consistent pattern of exposure. All TDI exposures were episodic.
Keywords
Occupational-exposure; Toxicology; Physiological-response; Aromatic-hydrocarbons; Clinical-symptoms; Respiratory-system-disorders; Toxic-effects; Clinical-diagnosis; Worker-health;
Priority Area
Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Disease and Injury; Respiratory-system-disorders;
Source Name
Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, NIOSH Contract No. 210-75-0006, 27 pages, 5 references
