Trends in pulmonary function and prevalence of asthma in hexamethylene diisocyanate workers during a 19-year period. J Occup Environ Med 2010 Oct;52(10):988-94
Date
10/01/2010Pubmed ID
20881627DOI
10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181f2e086Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To identify if 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) workers demonstrated an increased prevalence of occupational asthma or accelerated decline in pulmonary function.
METHODS: Employees from two plants manufacturing or producing 1,6-HDI monomer and/or HDI polyisocyanates were matched to a control population by age, gender, race, and smoking status. A random coefficient regression analysis compared the decline in pulmonary function test values over time. Retrospective medical review was used to identify potential cases of occupationally induced asthma.
RESULTS: No significantly accelerated annual decline in force expiratory volume after 1 second in the HDI exposure group compared to the matched control group was observed. No cases of adult onset asthma, beyond those present at time of hire, and no cases of occupational asthma were identified.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for the current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value time-weighted average of 5 ppb.
Author List
Cassidy LD, Molenaar DM, Hathaway JA, Feeley TM, Cummings BJ, Simpson P, Li SHAuthors
Laura Cassidy PhD Associate Dean, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of WisconsinPippa M. Simpson PhD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAir Pollutants, Occupational
Asthma
Cohort Studies
Cyanates
Female
Humans
Isocyanates
Male
Medical Audit
Middle Aged
Occupational Exposure
Respiration
Retrospective Studies
Young Adult
