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Eye and airway symptoms in low occupational exposure to toluene diisocyanate

Littorin, Margareta LU ; Axmon, Anna LU orcid ; Broberg Palmgren, Karin LU orcid ; Sennbro, Carl Johan LU and Tinnerberg, Håkan LU (2007) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 33(4). p.280-285
Abstract
Objectives Exposure to diisocyanates is a well known occupational hazard. The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of an association between low exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) (airborne isocyanates and biomarkers of isocyanates in plasma and urine) and symptoms of the eyes and upper and lower airways. Methods Altogether 136 workers occupationally exposed to TDI and 118 unexposed employees were studied. A physician compiled thorough medical and occupational histories and registered symptoms, total and work-related, of the eyes, nose, and lower airways. The exposure was assessed with personal air measurements and with biomarkers of exposure in plasma and urine. The average exposure in the ambient air at the... (More)
Objectives Exposure to diisocyanates is a well known occupational hazard. The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of an association between low exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) (airborne isocyanates and biomarkers of isocyanates in plasma and urine) and symptoms of the eyes and upper and lower airways. Methods Altogether 136 workers occupationally exposed to TDI and 118 unexposed employees were studied. A physician compiled thorough medical and occupational histories and registered symptoms, total and work-related, of the eyes, nose, and lower airways. The exposure was assessed with personal air measurements and with biomarkers of exposure in plasma and urine. The average exposure in the ambient air at the workplace of the exposed participants was below 1 ppb. Results Compared with the unexposed group, the exposed workers reported more total symptoms of the eyes and lower airways, as well as Dose bleeding. A similar pattern, with even higher odds ratios, was observed for work-related symptoms. However, only eye symptoms proved to be significantly associated with the exposure, notably with all of the exposure measures. The risk was more pronounced for exposure to 2,4-TDI than for exposure to 2,6-TDI. Conclusions Even very low exposure to TDI is related to negative health effects on exposed workers. Clear dose-response relationships were observed between three different measures of exposure and symptoms of the eyes. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
isocyanate, biomarker, air level, health effect, dose-response
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
33
issue
4
pages
280 - 285
publisher
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
external identifiers
  • wos:000249309500007
  • scopus:34548622668
  • pmid:17717620
ISSN
0355-3140
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
be12cc03-069a-4a95-a2b9-f6473a2ca5d2 (old id 656905)
alternative location
http://www.sjweh.fi/sjwehfile/files/j_07_4/280_285.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:26:23
date last changed
2022-01-27 03:44:06
@article{be12cc03-069a-4a95-a2b9-f6473a2ca5d2,
  abstract     = {{Objectives Exposure to diisocyanates is a well known occupational hazard. The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of an association between low exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) (airborne isocyanates and biomarkers of isocyanates in plasma and urine) and symptoms of the eyes and upper and lower airways. Methods Altogether 136 workers occupationally exposed to TDI and 118 unexposed employees were studied. A physician compiled thorough medical and occupational histories and registered symptoms, total and work-related, of the eyes, nose, and lower airways. The exposure was assessed with personal air measurements and with biomarkers of exposure in plasma and urine. The average exposure in the ambient air at the workplace of the exposed participants was below 1 ppb. Results Compared with the unexposed group, the exposed workers reported more total symptoms of the eyes and lower airways, as well as Dose bleeding. A similar pattern, with even higher odds ratios, was observed for work-related symptoms. However, only eye symptoms proved to be significantly associated with the exposure, notably with all of the exposure measures. The risk was more pronounced for exposure to 2,4-TDI than for exposure to 2,6-TDI. Conclusions Even very low exposure to TDI is related to negative health effects on exposed workers. Clear dose-response relationships were observed between three different measures of exposure and symptoms of the eyes.}},
  author       = {{Littorin, Margareta and Axmon, Anna and Broberg Palmgren, Karin and Sennbro, Carl Johan and Tinnerberg, Håkan}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  keywords     = {{isocyanate; biomarker; air level; health effect; dose-response}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{280--285}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Eye and airway symptoms in low occupational exposure to toluene diisocyanate}},
  url          = {{http://www.sjweh.fi/sjwehfile/files/j_07_4/280_285.pdf}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}