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Health hazards of tertiary amine catalysts.

Albrecht WN; Stephenson RL

Scand J Work Environ Health 1988 Aug; 14(4):209-219

https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.1930

00182851

The health hazards of tertiary amine catalysts used in foundry and polyurethane foam manufacturing processes were reviewed and discussed. In foundries, tertiary amine catalysts have been used in the core making processes to increase the rate of reaction between phenolic resins and isocyanates. In polyurethane foam making processes, tertiary amine catalysts have been used to control the rate of reaction of polyfunctional isocyanates and hydroxyl containing polymers. Chemical parameters discussed included the basic and nucleophilic properties of the amines and their aqueous and lipid solubilities. General toxicological effects included corrosive action on the skin and mucous membranes and systemic complaints including headache, nausea, faintness, anxiety, tachycardia, itching, erythema, urticaria, and edema. Specific visual effects included corneal edema, misty vision, halo vision, and blue or grey vision with haziness. Experimental investigations have been conducted on mechanisms underlying the visual and systemic effects of tertiary amine exposure, included mydriasis and cylcoplegia due to effects on the innervation of the sphincter muscle of the iris, edema and rupture of the corneal epithelium, blockade of parasympathetic and sympathetic ganglia, and histamine release.

NIOSH-Author; Clinical-symptoms; Plastics-industry; Eye-disorders; Occupational-exposure; Foundry-workers; Synthetic-materials; Author Keywords: blue haze; corneal edema; cycloplegia; dimethylethylamine; halo vision; histamine; mydriasis; tertiary amines; triethylamine; vision disturbance

Mr RL Stephenson, Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA

SWEHDO

19880801

Journal Article

1988

4

0355-3140

DSHEFS

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

OH; HI