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  • Title: Asthma in tunnel workers exposed to synthetic resins.
    Author: Ulvestad B, Melbostad E, Fuglerud P.
    Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health; 1999 Aug; 25(4):335-41. PubMed ID: 10505659.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of asthma among tunnel workers exposed to synthetic resins was studied by determining airway symptoms, methacholine responsiveness, and lung function. METHODS: Nineteen injection workers were compared with a group of 104 other tunnel workers with similar exposure, except for that to synthetic resins. A questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, use of respiratory protection, and work tasks was used. Lung function was studied using a bellows spirometer. Bronchial reactivity was tested with methacholine. Allergy screening with Phadiatop and radioallergosorbent tests for toluene-diisocyanate-HSA, diphenylmethane-4.4-diisocyanate-HSA, and formaldehyde-HSA (HSA = human serum albumin) were carried out. Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and MDI prepolymer exposure was estimated by filter sampling, and the filters were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The most common work situations were simulated for an estimation of exposure to isocyanates. RESULTS: The injection workers reported more respiratory symptoms than the reference group, and they had higher prevalences of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (37% versus 14%), asthma (26% versus 1%), and airflow limitation (37% versus 4%). Toluene-diisocyanate-HSA-specific immunoglobulin E antibodies were found in 2 of the 19 injection workers, but in none of the other tunnel workers. By simulation at a worksite, the average exposure to polymerized MDI was estimated to be 5.5-300 microg/m3 during injection work and 18-4300 microg/m3 during short-term exposure, the highest exposure occurring when cured polyurethane was ground. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to partly decomposed MDI in tunnel work enhances the risk for respiratory symptoms, methacholine hyperresponsiveness, asthma, and airflow limitation.
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