Update on Isocyanates

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Michigan State University. College of Human Medicine
• Description:
  On April 3rd and 4th, 2013, multiple governmental agencies, such as NCI, NIEHS, NIOSH, ATSDR and professional organizations, such as ATS, ACOEM, ACGIH sponsored an International Conference in Bethesda, Maryland titled "Isocyanates and Health". Isocyanates are low molecular weight, highly reactive compounds that are widely used in industrial and consumer products. They are the most common causes of work-related asthma both in Michigan and worldwide. Four hundred and twenty workers have been diagnosed and reported to the Michigan surveillance program with work-related asthma from isocyanates since 1988. Aliphatic diisocyanates, i.e. HDI, are used in coatings and paints such as on cars because of their resistance to wear. Aromatic diisocyanates, i.e. MDI and TDI are used in foams (chairs and auto seats) adhesives, sealants (i.e. urethane), elastomers and insulation (i.e. blown in foam). Commercial products contain multiple isomers and oligomers of these substances, some of which will not be captured with current air sampling techniques. Production of these products involves mixing the isocyanate with a catalyst, typically an amine compound, which reacts with the -N=C=O functional group on the isocyanate to form the product, a polymer. During the curing of the product there is some off gassing of unreacted isocyanate. Paints take more time to cure than the aromatic isocyanates used in the making of foam. Exposure and sensitization to isocyanates occurs from their inhalation and probably also from skin contact. Use of isocyanates in Michigan is widespread and is increasing. In 2011, 103 Michigan companies reported to the EPA they used at least 10,000 pounds a year compared to 94 companies in 2009. These 103 companies are larger manufacturers making adhesives, laminated wood products, vehicle paint, insulation products, and auto parts such as seats, head and arm rests, painting during vehicle assembly or foundries that use isocyanates to make sand cores. Up to 30,496 or almost 1% of the Michigan workforce is potentially exposed to isocyanates in these facilities. This estimate does not include employees in smaller facilities such as auto body/repair shops, home insulators and other construction workers, and spray-on truck bed liner applicators whose employers are not required to report isocyanate usage to the EPA. Table 14 in our recent Work-Related Asthma Annual report lists the 103 companies by county that reported using at least 10,000 pounds of isocyanates per year ((http://www.oem.msu.edu/annualreports.aspx)). [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma, Occupational Epidemiology Isocyanates Lung Diseases Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety
• Keywords:
  Diisocyanates Lung Disease Occupational Asthma Occupational Exposure Surveillance
• Publisher:
  Michigan State University-College of Human Medicine
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Newsletter
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-4
• Volume:
  24
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054562
• Citation:
  Project S.E.N.S.O.R. News 2013 Apr; 24(2):1-4
• Contact Point Address:
  MSU-CHM, 117 West Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1316
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Project S.E.N.S.O.R. News
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:22aa085b58ff96bfd869d3165d25b66ff189076eba829d1500f8be319d68533128fdc1b0eb7e557a80685f7d459a8f42a908dd27c3bd024cf9cebdcbcd1936d9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217087/cdc_217087_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 87.87 KB ]