Incidence of Occupational Asthma and Exposure to Toluene Diisocyanate in the United States Toluene Diisocyanate Production Industry.

ABSTRACT: This study examines asthma risk in facilities producing toluene diisocyanate (TDI).A total of 197 workers were monitored from 2007 to 2012. TDI air concentrations were used to estimate exposures.The incidence of cases consistent with TDI-induced asthma was 0.009 per person-years (seven cases) or consistent with TDI-induced asthma or asthma indeterminate regarding work-relatedness was 0.012 (nine cases). Increased risk of cases consistent with TDI asthma was observed for cumulative (odds ratio [OR]?=?2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07 to 4.05) per logarithm parts per billion-years and peak TDI exposures (OR?=?1.18, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.32) (logarithm parts per billion). There was a weak association with cumulative and peak exposures for decline of short-term forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Asthma symptoms were associated with workers noticing an odor of TDI (OR 6.02; 95% CI 1.36 to 26.68).There is evidence that cumulative and peak exposures are associated with TDI-induced asthma.

SUBMITTER: Collins JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5763544 | biostudies-other | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other