An epidemiologic investigation of forced expiratory volume at 1 second and respiratory symptoms among employees of a toluene diisocyanate production plant

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00043764-198908000-00009· OSTI ID:5542207

Olsen, G W; Shellenberger, R; Bodner, K M; Flores, G H; Emmitte, J A; Bond, G G; Saunders, J H ^[1]

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1. Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI (USA)

Pulmonary function tests were done and compared to current and past potential exposure levels of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) for 57 TDI manufacturing workers and 89 workers not exposed to TDI or other known respiratory hazards. The average TDI plant experience was 4.1 years (standard deviation = 2.8). Routine industrial hygiene measurements have shown TDI exposure below a time-weighted average of 0.005 parts per million and a short-term exposure level of 0.02 parts per million. A certified industrial hygienist ranked department and job classification by level of potential exposure to TDI (none, low, moderate, and high). A questionnaire was administered to determine the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and smoking habits. Using backward regression analysis, cumulative pack-years of cigarette smoking and prevalence of lower respiratory symptoms were statistically significant predictors of a standardized forced expiratory volume at 1 second observed v expected difference; however, TDI exposure, whether classified as current, highest career level, cumulative, or cumulative highest-to-date, was not associated with a decline in forced expiratory volume.

• OSTI ID: 5542207
• Journal Information: JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: JOM, Journal of Occupational Medicine; (USA) Vol. 31:8; ISSN 0096-1736; ISSN JJOMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BODY
CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
CYANATES
DISEASES
EPIDEMIOLOGY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
LUNGS
MATHEMATICS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PERSONNEL
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
STATISTICS
TOLUENE