Metabolic changes in human plasma samples among workers exposed to diisocyanate products

In the European Union (EU), the total use of diisocyanates is 2.5 million tons per year. Diisocyanates are highly reactive chemicals, containing two isocyanate functional groups. Diisocyanates are the main cause of occupational asthma in EU. The aim of this study was to assess metabolic changes in human plasma after occupational exposure to diisocyanates.

This study used samples and data provided by the EU project HBM4EU. The study population was recruited from Finland and Belgium, including 81 diisocyanate exposed workers and 40 controls. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to assess metabolic changes in plasma samples. Samples were analyzed with two distinct chromatographic retention mechanisms in both positive and negative ionization mode, measured with a high-resolution mass spectrometer.

Differences in metabolite profiles between workers and controls were observed. Diisocyanate exposure was associated with higher 5-aminovaleric acid betaine, tetradecenoylcarnitine, lysophosphocholine 18:1 and lower N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide levels. Additionally, variations were observed in metabolite profiles between Finnish and Belgian individuals.

This study is the first to assess metabolite changes in human plasma samples after occupational exposure to diisocyanates. These preliminary results suggest that exposure to diisocyanates may affect fatty acid metabolism, but the observations need to be validated in future studies.