Polyisocyanates in Occupational Environments: A Critical Review of Exposure Limits and Metrics

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bello D ; Cullen MR ; Eisen EA ; Ellenbecker, Michael J. ; Liu Y ; Redlich CA ; Sparer, Judith ; Stowe M ; Streicher, Robert P. ; Woskie SR ; Youngs F
• Description:
  Determination of polyisocyanates is important because they are a major contributor of exposure to the isocyanate functional group in many workplace environments and are capable of inducing sensitization and asthma. However, with multiple different measurement metrics in use, comparison of isocyanate exposure data between studies and development of occupational exposure limits (OELs) for polyisocyanates is difficult. An analysis of existing problems in the measurement and regulation of isocyanates is presented based on the published analytical, toxicological, and regulatory literature, and the authors' own analytical data and experience with isocyanates. This analysis supports a need for standardization of isocyanate measurement metrics and provides a framework for the development of an OEL for polyisocyanates. The total isocyanate group (g NCO/m3) is recommended as the most feasible and practical metric (unit) by which to express polyisocyanate exposures for research, control, and regulatory purposes. The establishment of a comprehensive isocyanate OEL that simplifies the current agent-by-agent approach and expands coverage to polyisocyanates is also recommended. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma Asthma, Occupational Hypersensitivity Isocyanates Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Urogenital Diseases Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Isocyanate Standards Bronchial-asthma Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Exposure Limits Exposure Metric Occupational-exposure Occupational Asthma Polyisocyanates Pulmonary-system-disorders Regulatory Toxicology Reproductive-system-disorders Sensitization Work-environment

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; Massachusetts ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; 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
• Pages in Document:
  480-491
• Volume:
  46
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20025735
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2004 Nov; 46(5):480-491
• Contact Point Address:
  Dhimiter Bello, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Work Environment Department, KI 200, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854
• Email:
  Dhimiter_Bello@uml.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Exposure Assessment Methods ; Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Performing Organization:
  Yale University, New Haven, CT
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19970901
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20020831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:50cf05f31c8de53736a5bff19e36769972738ef128712d89394e26d34bf0244d360c3b61c7b2e2c9938130918dd71957e5b0440c7e075fe84b6ef73ddc8e0771
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196985/cdc_196985_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 163.17 KB ]