Four-year follow-up of effects of toluene diisocyanate exposure on the respiratory system in polyurethane foam manufacturing workers

✍ Scribed by Kazuyuki Omae; Toshiaki Higashi; Toshio Nakadate; Shoichiro Tsugane; Masahiro Nakaza; Haruhiko Sakurai

• Book ID: 104750006
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 476 KB
• Volume: 63
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0340-0131
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00386347

✦ Synopsis

Fifty-seven polyurethane foam manufacturing workers (PF workers) and 24 reference workers were followed for 4 years to clarify the effects on pulmonary function of working in PF factories with exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) No significant differences in the average annual losses (AA Ls) of pulmonary function for 4 years were observed among the 28 PF workers whose TDI exposure levels were very low (mean= O 1 ppb, group L), the remaining 29 PF workers with mean TDI exposure of 5 7 ppb (group H), and the reference workers However, 15 PF workers in group H who had experienced peak exposure excursions to 30 ppb or above with a mean concentration of 8 2 ppb showed significantly larger AA Ls in percentage maximal mid-expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 S ratio to vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow at 25 % of FVC than expected, and significantly larger AA Ls in some obstructive pulmonary function indices than those of the 14 remaining PF workers in group H whose peak exposure excursion levels were 3-14 ppb with a mean timeweighted average (TWA) of 1 7 ppb, group L, and the reference workers These findings suggest that the peak exposure excursion level of TDI might be important in inducing obstructive pulmonary function changes in the PF workers rather than the TWA exposure levels, though further comparative studies of the AAL in those who are exposed to different peak exposure excursion levels but the same mean exposure levels are necessary From the standpoint of prevention, the proposition that peak exposure excursion levels exceeding 20 ppb should be avoided is reasonable.