How important is skin exposure to isocyanates?
Scientists from IOM and the UK Health and Safety Laboratory have published an article showing very low airborne isocyanate concentrations in a range of companies investigated. However, about one third of urine samples collected from workers showed isocyanate exposure above the agreed Biological Monitoring Guidance Value (BMGV). The authors concluded that in some instances the respirators being used by operators were not effective or that absorption may have occurred by dermal or other routes of exposure. It’s not clear how dermal exposure might contribute to the risk of occupational asthma amongst these workers and we believe that further work should be done to investigate this issue.
The article is…
Creely KS, Hughson GW, Cocker J et al. (2006). Assessing isocyanate exposures in polyurethane industry sectors using biological and air monitoring methods. Annals of Occupational Hygiene. May 26, 2006 (epub ahead of print).