J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  1999 Jun;19(3):468-475.

Airway hyperresponsiveness among workers exposed to isocyanates at Yeocheon petrochemical plant

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by isocyanate at one petrochemical industry complex in Yeochon, Korea. METHOD: Questionnaires, allergic skin prick test, toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-specific IgE, and non-specific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were studied in 73 exposed workers and 27 control subjects. Methacholine challenge tests were done and bronc hial responsiveness (BR index) was defined as log (% fall of FEV1)/ log (last concentration of methacholine +10).
RESULTS
Twenty-three workers (31.5% ) had respiratory symptoms, 21 had nasal symptoms, and eight had skin symptoms. Exposed workers with respiratory symptoms (n=22) had significantly higher BR index than those without them (0.82+/-0.06 vs 0.60+/-0.02, p<0.05). Exposed workers tended to have higher BR index than controls (0.67+/-0.03 vs 0.62+/-0.02). Three exposed workers had PC20 methacholine <2.0 mg/ml. There were no significant differences in atopy score between exposed workers and controls (p>0.05). Specific IgE antibodies were found in 19.7% of exposed workers. FEV, showed a significant negative correlation with BR index (r =-0.25, p<0.05). Poor correlation was noted between BR index and atopy, smoking status, or exposure duration.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that workers exposed to isocyanates are at higher risk of airway hyperresponsiveness.

Keyword

Isocyanate; airway hyperresponsiveness; BR index

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Immunoglobulin E
Isocyanates*
Korea
Methacholine Chloride
Plants*
Prevalence
Skin
Smoke
Smoking
Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate
Surveys and Questionnaires
Antibodies
Immunoglobulin E
Isocyanates
Methacholine Chloride
Smoke
Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate
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