Communities near toluene diisocyanate sources: an investigation of exposure and health

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bernstein DI ; Bernstein JA ; Campbell DS ; Dearwent SM ; Ernst K ; Langley RL ; Lummus ZL ; Middleton, Dannie C. ; Streicher, Robert P. ; Wattigney WA ; Wilder LC
• Description:
  Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is a well-known cause of occupational asthma, but we know little about the potential for exposure and health effects among residents who live near facilities that release TDI. In the mid-1990's, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry investigated exposures to TDI and health outcomes in one community, which left some unanswered questions. This cross-sectional study evaluated the potential associations between living near a TDI source and the prevalence of three variables: asthma or asthma-like respiratory symptoms, antibodies specific to TDI, and verifiable levels of TDI in residential air. Results among North Carolina residents living near such facilities (five target communities) were compared with the results from residents living further away (five comparison communities). Overall, the prevalence of reporting either asthma or asthma-like respiratory symptoms was higher (odds ratio=1.60; 95% confidence interval=0.97-2.54) among residents in target communities than those in comparison communities. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Symptom prevalence varied greatly among the community populations. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was higher near facilities with historically higher TDI emissions. Among the 351 participants who provided blood samples, only one had immunoglobulin G specific antibodies to TDI. This participant lived in a target area and may have had non-occupational exposure. TDI was detected at an extremely low level (1 ppt) in one of the 45 air samples from target communities. One ppt is one-tenth the EPA reference concentration. Overall, air sample and antibody test results are not consistent with recent or ongoing exposure to TDI. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Epidemiology Isocyanates Lung Lung Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Toluene

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• Keywords:
  Air-contamination Author Keywords: Diisocyanate Community Health Study Environmental Exposure Assessment Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Humans Occupational-exposure Occupational-respiratory-disease Pulmonary-disorders Pulmonary-function Respiratory-system-disorders Toluene Diisocyanate Toluenes

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• ISSN:
  1559-0631
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; North Carolina ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  21
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20038432
• Citation:
  J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2011 Nov/Dec; 21(6):587-594
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. Lynn C. Wilder, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, NE (F-57), Atlanta, GA 30341
• Email:
  lwilder@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (CAS RN 584-84-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:17c609aadc541f1bdd8ead1e690accc2fa5443fac094a8c5f81a5c95a5df9d64a27b9a1450d64739ecf3ec3bc4a49342ced516580e81e847ee08b0efafa7bf06
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/192145/cdc_192145_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 324.98 KB ]