Subclinical Immunologic and Physiologic Responses in Hexamethylene Diisocyanate-Exposed Auto Body Shop Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Appiah-Pippim J ; Chung JS ; Cullen MR ; Eisen EA ; Gore R ; Holm CT ; Karol MH ; Lemus R ; Liu Y ; Redlich CA ; Sparer, Judith ; Stowe MH ; Wisnewski AV ; Woskie SR
• Description:
  Background: Diisocyanates are potent sensitizing agents and currently the most commonly identified cause of occupational asthma in industrialized countries. However, diisocyanate asthma is difficult to diagnose and exposure and host risk factors are unclear. Auto body shops, one of the most common hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) exposure settings, are particularly difficult to study due to their small size and episodic exposures. Surveillance studies of such workers are limited. Objectives: We have initiated a cross-sectional field epidemiologic study, Survey of Painters and Repairers of Auto bodies by Yale (SPRAY), to characterize the effects of diisocyanate exposures on actively employed auto body shop workers. Methods and Results: We present here questionnaire, physiologic, immunologic, and exposure data on 75 subjects enrolled in the study. No overt cases of clinically apparent diisocyanate asthma were identified based on spirometry, methacholine challenge, peak flows, and symptoms. HDI-specific lymphocyte proliferation was present in 30% of HDI-exposed workers and HDI-specific IgG in 34% of HDI-exposed workers, but they were not associated. HDI-specific IgE was detected in two workers. HDI-specific lymphocyte proliferation, increased methacholine responsiveness, and symptoms of chest tightness and shortness of breath were more common in the most heavily HDI-exposed workers, the painters. More long-term follow-up of this cohort should clarify the significance of these HDI-specific immunologic responses, physiologic changes, and symptoms. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the presence of HDI-specific immune responses in a large proportion of healthy HDI-exposed workers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Epidemiology Lung Occupational Health Paint Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Asthma Author Keywords: Diisocyanates Automobile-repair-shops Hexamethylene Diisocyanate Lymphocyte Proliferation Paint-spraying Painters Pulmonary-function Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders Spray-painting Statistical-analysis Surveillance

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• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  39
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021847
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2001 Jun; 39(6):587-597
• Contact Point Address:
  Carrie A. Redlich, YOEMP, 135 College St, New Haven, CT 06511
• Email:
  carrie.redlich@yale.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Hexamethylene diisocyanate (CAS RN 822-06-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Performing Organization:
  Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
• 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:d1f97ebd04134620747ba0b58a0b8af380970db97d0ee105da58515b6bbe20892c063ec371a0fdb911806fa2b3244510135ef57470c1d55153d1ebf06ff66ee7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198943/cdc_198943_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 164.50 KB ]