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Mortality among workers exposed to toluene diisocyanate in the US polyurethane foam industry: update and exposure-response analyses.

Pinkerton LE; Yiin JH; Daniels RD; Fent KW

Am J Ind Med 2016 Aug; 59(8):630-643

https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22622

20048259

Background: Mortality among 4,545 toluene diisocyante (TDI)-exposed workers was updated through 2011. The primary outcome of interest was lung cancer. Methods: Life table analyses, including internal analyses by exposure duration and cumulative TDI exposure, were conducted. Results: Compared with the US population, all cause and all cancer mortality was increased. Lung cancer mortality was increased but was not associated with exposure duration or cumulative TDI exposure. In post hoc analyses, lung cancer mortality was associated with employment duration in finishing jobs, but not in finishing jobs involving cutting polyurethane foam. Conclusions: Dermal exposure, in contrast to inhalational exposure, to TDI is expected to be greater in finishing jobs and may play a role in the observed increase in lung cancer mortality. Limitations include the lack of smoking data, uncertainty in the exposure estimates, and exposure estimates that reflected inhalational exposure only.

Toluenes; Toluene; Diisocyanates; Mortality data; Mortality rates; Mortality studies; Polyurethane foams; Lung cancer; Cancer; Cancer rates; Employee exposure; Life table analysis system; LTAS; Dermal exposures; Skin exposure; Dose response; Author Keywords: toluene diisocyanate; mortality; cancer; cohort studies; exposure-response

Lynne E. Pinkerton, MD, MPH, Industrywide Studies Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave., R-15, Cincinnati, OH 45226

AJIMD8

26471-62-5

20160801

Journal Article

lep5@cdc.gov

2016

8

0271-3586

DSHEFS; EID

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

OH