Respiratory and Immunologic Evaluation of Isocyanate Exposure in a New Manufacturing Plant.
NIOSH 1978 Apr:27 pages
The development of respiratory disorders was monitored in 277 workers from a toluene-diisocyanate (26471625) (TDI) manufacturing company. Respiratory symptom questionnaires and spirometric tests were given to the workers in 1973, when TDI production began and periodically over the next 5 years. Personal TDI exposures ranged from 0.002 to 0.006 parts per million for an 8 hour time weighted average. Respiratory disorders, especially bronchitis, developed more frequently among TDI exposed workers. A slight annual increase in residual volume was noted among workers with the greatest TDI exposure. Two of nine clinically sensitive workers had bronchial reactivity reactions to TDI challenge. Blood cells from these two subjects had decreased lymphocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate stimulation in response to isoproterenol, prostoglandin E and TDI. The authors conclude that chronic TDI exposure is associated with development of respiratory disorders. They suggest that TDI is a partial adrenergic receptor agonist.