Immunological evaluation of four arc welders exposed to fumes from ignited polyurethane (isocyanate) foam: antibodies and immune profiles
Four arc welders having a flu-like illness with multiple health complaints following an exposure to high concentrations of isocyanate fumes from ignited polyurethane foam underwent immunological tests as follows: ELISA antibody assays, activated lymphocyte profiles, and lymphocyte blastogenesis. ELISA procedures revealed the presence of antibodies to hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and formaldehyde (F) conjugated to human serum albumin (HDI-SA and F-SA). The results from the activated lymphocyte profiles showed deviations from the norm as follows: three welders had elevated helper/suppressor (H/S) ratios; all four had elevated percentages of Tal positive cells; two had decreases in B cells; and one had low total white cell and lymphocyte counts. In contrast, the percentage and absolute numbers of ILS receptor cells were normal in the four subjects. T cell blastogenesis to PHA, Con A and PWM resulted in the following: T-cells from one subject responded normally; in another, a high response (212% of controls) to PHA occurred with normal mitogenesis to Con A and PWM. In the remaining two welders, the T cells responded abnormally low (50 to 75% of controls) to the three mitogens. In conclusion, the existence of IgG antibodies to HDI-SA and F-SA, the altered activated immune profiles, the elevated Tal cells, and the abnormal blastogenesis are interpreted as being linked with the episode of HDI and F exposure and the subsequent flu-like illness of the four welders.
- Research Organization:
- Antibody Assay Laboratories, Santa Ana, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6939567
- Journal Information:
- Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Vol. 13:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
B cells in the appendix and other lymphoid organs of the rabbit: Stimulation of DNA synthesis by anti-immunoglobulin
Effects of hypoxia on human lymphocyte activation
Related Subjects
CYANATES
ENZYME IMMUNOASSAY
TOXICITY
FORMALDEHYDE
POLYURETHANES
HEALTH HAZARDS
ALBUMINS
ANTIBODIES
ANTIGENS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
LYMPHOCYTES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
WELDING
ALDEHYDES
ANIMAL CELLS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
FABRICATION
HAZARDS
IMMUNOASSAY
JOINING
LEUKOCYTES
MATERIALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLYAMIDES
POLYMERS
PROTEINS
SOMATIC CELLS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology