Immunological effects of toluene diisocyanate exposure on painters

Among the painters handling polyurethane varnish in two furniture manufacturing factories with high toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposure (0.79 mg/m3 and 0.31 mg/m3), 26.3% and 15% subjects, respectively displayed asthmatic symptoms, lung function loss, and an increment in mast cell degranulation percentage specific to TDI. Some cases of TDI-linked contact dermatitis were also found among them, being elucidated by positive patch testing to TDI. However, the previous abnormalities could not be verified among the painters from another factory with TDI concentration below the TLV of it (0.11 mg/m3). It was concluded that both pulmonary hypersensitivity and contact sensitization to TDI had occurred in some of the painters included in this study, and that the immunologic effects of TDI was concentration dependent.