Assessment of Personal Inhalation and Skin Exposures to Polymeric Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate During Polyurethane Fabric Coating

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bello D ; Harari H ; Redlich CA ; Woskie S
• Description:
  Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) monomers and polymeric MDI (pMDI) are aromatic isocyanates widely used in the production of polyurethanes. These isocyanates can cause occupational asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, as well as contact dermatitis. Skin exposure likely contributes toward initial sensitization but is challenging to monitor and quantitate. In this work, we characterized workers' personal inhalation and skin exposures to pMDI in a polyurethane fabric coating factory for subsequent health effect studies. Full-shift personal and area air samples were collected from eleven workers in representative job areas daily for 1-2 weeks. Skin exposure to hands was evaluated concomitantly with a newly developed reagent-impregnated cotton glove dosimeter. Samples were analyzed for pMDI by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In personal airborne samples, the concentration of 4,4'-MDI isomer, expressed as total NCO, had a geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 5.1 and 3.3 ng NCO/m3, respectively (range: 0.5-1862 ng NCO/m3). Other MDI isomers were found at much lower concentrations. Analysis of 4,4'-MDI in the glove dosimeters exhibited much greater exposures (GM: 10 ng/cm2) and substantial variability (GSD: 20 ng NCO/cm2; range: 0-295 ng NCO/cm2). MDI inhalation exposure was well below occupational limits for MDI for all the job areas. However, MDI skin exposure to hands was substantial. These findings demonstrated the potential for substantial isocyanate skin exposure in work settings with very low airborne levels. This exposure characterization should inform future studies that aim to assess the health effects of work exposures to MDI and the effectiveness of protective measures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Isocyanates Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Skin Textile Industry
• Keywords:
  Asthma Author Keywords: Isocyanates Coated Fabrics Coatings Industrial Factory Workers Inhalation Inhalation Studies Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Polyurethanes Skin Exposure Textile Workers

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• ISSN:
  0748-2337
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; Massachusetts ; New York ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  38
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067696
• Citation:
  Toxicol Ind Health 2022 Sep; 38(9):622-635
• Contact Point Address:
  Carrie A Redlich, Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Yale School of Medicine, 367 Cedar St, ESHA 2nd floor, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
• Email:
  Carrie.Redlich@Yale.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (CAS RN 101-68-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Toxicology and Industrial Health
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:230f0a36a38db6c7b783b3d52e55cbccc5e84f6286fc5b9e80fd319d21de2db86653e7896cb878cab392acfb61153557e50e0487720df8cbf593c6eeaac9d4d9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/229959/cdc_229959_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.39 MB ]