Dominika Świerczyńska-Machura1, Sławomir Brzeźnicki2, Ewa Nowakowska-Świrta3, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa4, Tomasz Wittczak5, Wojciech Dudek6, Marzena Bonczarowska7, Wiktor Wesolowski8, Sławomir Czerczak9, Cezary Pałczyński10. 1. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology). mika@imp.lodz.pl. 2. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety). slawek@imp.lodz.pl. 3. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology). enow@imp.lodz.pl. 4. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology). jolantaw@imp.lodz.pl. 5. The Regional Centre for Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland. tomekwit@imp.lodz.pl. 6. Dr Karol Jonscher City Hospital, Łódź, Poland (Department of Internal Medicine). wdudek@imp.lodz.pl. 7. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety). marzena@imp.lodz.pl. 8. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety). wwesolow@imp.lodz.pl. 9. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Chemical Safety). sak@imp.lodz.pl. 10. Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Department of Occupational Diseases and Toxicology). cpalczyn@imp.lodz.pl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate health effects of occupational exposure to diisocyanates (DIC) among polyurethane foam products factory workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty workers had a physical examination, skin prick tests with common allergens, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to diisocyanates and pulmonary function tests. Concentrations of selected isocyanates in the workplace air samples as well as concentration of their metabolites in the urine samples collected from the workers of the plant were determined. RESULTS: The most frequent work-related symptoms reported by the examined subjects were rhinitis and skin symptoms. Sensitization to at least 1 common allergen was noted in 26.7% of the subjects. Spirometry changes of bronchial obstruction of a mild degree was observed in 5 workers. The specific IgE antibodies to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) were not detected in any of the patients' serum. Cellular profiles of the collected induced sputum (ISP) did not reveal any abnormalities. Air concentrations of TDI isomers ranged 0.2-58.9 μg/m3 and in 7 cases they exceeded the Combined Exposure Index (CEI) value for those compounds. Concentrations of TDI metabolites in post-shift urine samples were significantly higher than in the case of pre-shift urine samples and in 6 cases they exceeded the British Biological Monitoring Guidance Value (BMGV - 1 μmol amine/mol creatinine). We didn't find a correlation between urinary concentrations of TDI, concentrations in the air and concentrations of toluenediamine (TDA) in the post shift urine samples. Lack of such a correlation may be an effect of the respiratory protective equipment use. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of specific IgE in serum is not sensitive enough to serve as a biomarker. Estimation of concentrations of diisocyanate metabolites in urine samples and the presence of work-related allergic symptoms seem to be an adequate method for occupational exposure monitoring of DIC, which may help to determine workers at risk as well as to recognize hazardous workplaces. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate health effects of occupational exposure to diisocyanates (DIC) among polyurethane foam products factory workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty workers had a physical examination, skin prick tests with common allergens, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to diisocyanates and pulmonary function tests. Concentrations of selected isocyanates in the workplace air samples as well as concentration of their metabolites in the urine samples collected from the workers of the plant were determined. RESULTS: The most frequent work-related symptoms reported by the examined subjects were rhinitis and skin symptoms. Sensitization to at least 1 common allergen was noted in 26.7% of the subjects. Spirometry changes of bronchial obstruction of a mild degree was observed in 5 workers. The specific IgE antibodies to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) were not detected in any of the patients' serum. Cellular profiles of the collected induced sputum (ISP) did not reveal any abnormalities. Air concentrations of TDI isomers ranged 0.2-58.9 μg/m3 and in 7 cases they exceeded the Combined Exposure Index (CEI) value for those compounds. Concentrations of TDI metabolites in post-shift urine samples were significantly higher than in the case of pre-shift urine samples and in 6 cases they exceeded the British Biological Monitoring Guidance Value (BMGV - 1 μmol amine/mol creatinine). We didn't find a correlation between urinary concentrations of TDI, concentrations in the air and concentrations of toluenediamine (TDA) in the post shift urine samples. Lack of such a correlation may be an effect of the respiratory protective equipment use. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of specific IgE in serum is not sensitive enough to serve as a biomarker. Estimation of concentrations of diisocyanate metabolites in urine samples and the presence of work-related allergic symptoms seem to be an adequate method for occupational exposure monitoring of DIC, which may help to determine workers at risk as well as to recognize hazardous workplaces. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.
Authors: Bernice Scholten; Laura Kenny; Radu-Corneliu Duca; Anjoeka Pronk; Tiina Santonen; Karen S Galea; Miranda Loh; Katriina Huumonen; Anne Sleeuwenhoek; Matteo Creta; Lode Godderis; Kate Jones Journal: Ann Work Expo Health Date: 2020-07-01 Impact factor: 2.179