Title
Different respiratory phenotypes are associated with isocyanate exposure in spray painters
Author
Pronk, A.
Preller, L.
Doekes, G.
Wouters, I.M.
Rooijackers, J.
Lammers, J.-W.
Heederik, D.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2009
Abstract
Associations have been observed between exposure to isocyanates, consisting mainly of oligomers, and respiratory symptoms and isocyanate specific sensitisation in spray painters. The aim of the present study was to assess associations between isocyanate exposure and more objective respiratory effect measures such as bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), baseline spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) in a subset of spray painters. Methacholine challenge and eNO measurements were performed in 229 workers. Questionnaires and blood samples were obtained. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG to hexamethylene di-isocyanate were assessed in serum using various assays. Personal exposure was estimated by combining personal task-based inhalatory exposure measurements and time-activity information. Workers with higher isocyanate exposure were more often hyperresponsive (prevalence ratio comparing the 75th versus 25th percentile of exposure 1.8). In addition, significant exposure-related decreased forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV 1/forced vital capacity ratio and flow-volume parameters independent of BHR were found. BHR was more prevalent among sensitised workers. This was statistically significant for only IgG-ImmunoCAP (Phadia, Uppsala, Sweden) positive workers. eNO was not associated with exposure although slightly elevated eNO levels in specific IgG positive subjects were found. The current study provides evidence that exposure to isocyanate oligomers is related to asthma with bronchial hyperresponsiveness as a hallmark, but also shows independent chronic obstructive respiratory effects resulting from isocyanate exposure. Copyright©ERS Journals Ltd 2009.
Subject
Health
Food and Chemical Risk Analysis
Bronchial hyperresponsiveness
Hexamethylene di-isocyanate
Oligomer
Sensitisation
Spirometry
Spray painter
endothelial nitric oxide synthase
hexamethylene diisocyanate
immunoglobulin E
immunoglobulin G
methacholine
paint
adult
article
blood analysis
bronchus hyperreactivity
female
forced expiratory volume
human
lung flow volume curve
male
occupational exposure
phenotype
prevalence
priority journal
questionnaire
respiratory function
spirometry
Adult
Aerosols
Bronchial Hyperreactivity
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Exhalation
Female
Humans
Isocyanates
Lung
Male
Middle Aged
Nitric Oxide
Occupational Exposure
Paint
Phenotype
Spirometry
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:75cec87b-0010-48ea-8501-486f931c803f
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00091408
TNO identifier
241434
ISSN
0903-1936
Source
European Respiratory Journal, 33 (3), 494-501
Document type
article