Evaluation of Self-Reported Skin Problems Among Workers Exposed to Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) at a Foam Manufacturing Facility

Details

• Personal Author:
  Daftarian, Helga S. ; Lewis, Daniel M. ; Lushniak, Boris D. ; Reh, Christopher M.
• Description:
  Toluene diisocyanate, or TDI (CAS 584-84-9) is a well-known asthmagen and respiratory irritant. TDI is also known for its ability to irritate the skin and mucous membranes. To further investigate the dermal effects of TDI, NIOSH investigators conducted a cross-sectional study at a flexible foam manufacturing plant. A total of 114 workers participated in the study. Participants completed a medical questionnaire, provided blood for antibody testing to TDI and other allergens, and a subset of participants reporting skin symptoms underwent skin patch testing to a standard diisocyanate panel. Production line workers were more than twice as likely to report skin problems as those working in nonproduction areas (PRR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.14-16.32; P = 0.02). Age, gender and duration of employment at the plant were comparable among participants working in production and nonproduction areas. Of the 100 participants who provided blood samples for antibody testing, specific IgG antibody to TDI was detected in two individuals, and none of the samples demonstrated specific IgE antibody to TDI. Of the 26 workers who underwent skin patch testing, none developed reactions to the diisocyanate allergens. These results suggest that the skin symptoms among study participants represent an irritant rather than an immunologic reaction to TDI, or to an unidentified allergen present in the foam. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Age Factors Blood Demography Hematologic Tests Hypersensitivity Irritants Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Skin Surveys And Questionnaires Toluene

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• Keywords:
  Age-factors Allergens Blood-samples Demographic-characteristics Mucous-membranes Pulmonary-system-disorders Questionnaires Respiratory-irritants Respiratory-system-disorders Skin-irritants Toluenes

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  44
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20022950
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2002 Dec; 44(12):1197-1202
• Contact Point Address:
  Helga S. Daftarian, DO, MPH, Medical Director, Health Services Department, General Motors North America Moraine Assembly Plant, 2601 W. Stroop Road, Dayton, OH 45439-1929
• Email:
  helga.daftariando@gm.com
• CAS Registry Number:
  Toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (CAS RN 584-84-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2003
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:118f21f86b64fdd69b91463ced545b35130257975985e14ff06f44c7b81efe197d6537c295b2897e6be6ac48fda2e8804fc31e7318c4f13592182c47d480e27e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199554/cdc_199554_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 163.85 KB ]