Exposure to isocyanates in production and application. Biomonitoring

Introduction. Biomonitoring results from employees working in the production of isocyanates (collective 1) as well as from parquet recliners applying isocyanates (collective 2) are presented. The following isocyanates were investigated: methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (4,4-MDI), toluene diisocyanate (2,4 and 2,6-TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). For the biomonitoring the corresponding amine from the isocyanate was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), i.e. MDA, 2,4-TDA, 2,6-TDA and HDA. Moreover, in the parquet recliner study an ambient monitoring was carried out. Collective 1. The highest HDI values were measured in employees working in the control room and administration. Workers with direct access in the production did not have any body burden, i.e. personal protection equipment was adequate. The results showed that the reason for the body burden was insufficient hygiene in the working environment with the consequence that the contamination was spread into the clean area. Collective 2. The application of isocyanates in parquet recliners did not lead to a mentionable body burden; therefore, the substitution of products containing high levels of solvents by adhesives and sealing compounds containing isocyanates can be recommended.