Annals of Occupational Hygiene Advance Access originally published online on January 21, 2008
Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2008 52(2):117-124; doi:10.1093/annhyg/mem066
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene Society
Skin Exposure to Aliphatic Polyisocyanates in the Auto Body Repair and Refinishing Industry: II. A Quantitative Assessment
1 Department of Work Environment, School of Health and Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA
2 Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
3 Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
4 Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, 121 Washington Avenue, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1-978-934-3343; fax: +1-978-452-5711; e-mail: dhimiter_bello{at}uml.edu
Background: Skin exposure to isocyanates, in addition to respiratory exposures, may contribute to sensitization and asthma. Quantitative skin exposure data are scarce and quantitative methods limited. Methods: As part of the Survey of Painters and Repairers of Autobodies by Yale study, a method to sample and quantify human isocyanate skin exposure was developed (based on NIOSH 5525 method) and used to evaluate aliphatic isocyanate skin exposure in 81 auto body shop painters and body technicians. Wipe samples were collected from unprotected skin and from under PPE (gloves, clothing and respirator) using a polypropylene glycol-impregnated wipe. Hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), its polyisocyanates [HDI-derived polyisocyanates (pHDI)], isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and its polyisocyanates and IPDI-derived polyisocyanates (pIPDI) were quantified separately and also expressed as the total free isocyanate groups (total NCO). Results: For unprotected skin areas, 49 samples were collected for spray painting, 13 for mixing, 27 for paint-related tasks (e.g. sanding and compounding) and 53 for non-paint-related tasks. Forty-three samples were also collected under PPE. The geometric mean (GM) [geometric standard deviation (GSD)] total NCO concentrations (ng NCO cm–2) for unprotected skin (hands, face and forearms) was 1.9 (10.9) and range 0.0–64.4. pHDI species were the major contributor to the total NCO content. Levels were very variable, with the highest concentrations measured for clear coating and paint mixing tasks. Isocyanate skin exposure was also commonly detected under PPE, with 92% of samples above the limit of detection. Levels were very variable with the overall GM (GSD) total NCO (ng NCO cm–2) under PPE 1.0 (5.2) and range (0.0–47.0) and similar under the different PPE (glove, respirator and clothing). The highest concentrations were detected for mixing and spraying tasks, 6.9 (5.3) and 1.0 (5.2), respectively. Levels under PPE were generally lower than unpaired samples obtained with no PPE, but not statistically significant. Total isocyanate GM load on exposed skin and under PPE was commonly 100–300 ng NCO per sample, except for higher levels on exposed forearms during spraying (GM 5.9 µg NCO). Conclusions: A quantitative method was developed for skin sampling of isocyanates. Using this method, the study demonstrates that skin exposure to aliphatic polyisocyanates during painting, mixing and paint-related tasks in auto body shop workers is common and also commonly detected under routine PPE.
Keywords: auto body refinishing • dermal exposure assessment • gloves • isocyanates • PPE • skin exposure • SPRAY
Received August 16, 2007; in final form November 7, 2007
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