Exposure to isocyanates and organic solvents, and pulmonary-function changes in workers in a polyurethane molding process

The extent of adverse health effects of isocyanates when combined with other chemicals is not well documented. This study was conducted as a 2.5-year follow-up as well as to determine daily and weekly effects of exposure to isocyanates and organic solvents on pulmonary function. The concentrations of chemicals sampled were below the recommended exposure criteria. No daily or weekly reduction in the subjects' pulmonary function was observed. The isocyanate/solvent-exposed subjects showed significant long-term reduction in their forced vital capacity (P < 0.05) and expiratory volume in 1 second (P < 0.001). No such changes were observed in non-exposed subjects or in those exposed only to organic solvents. The proportion of subjects who developed respiratory symptoms in the isocyanate-exposed group was not significantly greater than that of the non-exposed group. The results of this study indicate that long-term exposure to isocyanates, even in very low concentrations, may contribute to impaired pulmonary function.