title: Associations of symptoms related to isocyanate, ureaformol, and formophenolic exposures with respiratory symptoms and lung function in coal miners.
abstract: The respiratory effects of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)-based resins and ureaformol- and formophenolic-based resins, used in coal mining, are unknown. This cross-sectional study of 354 miners evaluated respiratory health in miners with MDI-related symptoms (IS) and ureaformol/formophenolic-related symptoms (UFS). The protocol included clinical examination, chest radiograph, questionnaire on respiratory symptoms, smoking habit, job history, resin handling, and spirometry. Resin handling concerned 27.7% of the miners. IS affected 5.6%, and 1.4% also after work. UFS affected 22.6%, and 2.3% also after work. Wheezing affected 35.6%; chronic cough, expectoration, or bronchitis about 10%; dyspnea 5.4%; and asthma 2.8%. The miners with UFS had significantly more frequent chronic cough, expectoration, chronic bronchitis, dyspnea, and wheezing, whereas those with IS at and after work had markedly lower FVC, FEV1, MMEF, FEF50%, and FEF25%. These findings raise the possibility of deleterious effects of exposures to MDI and ureaformol/formophenolic resins on respiratory health and lung function in coal miners during their working life.
authors: Centre de Médecine du Travail, Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine, Freyming-Merlebach, France.
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Bertrand
authors: Véronique
authors: V
authors: Simon
authors: Nearkasen
authors: N
authors: Chau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D003032:Coal Mining; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000633:toxicity*; D011108:Polymers / Q000633:toxicity*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012907:Smoking; D014508:Urea / Q000633:toxicity*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005557:Formaldehyde; D017953:Isocyanates; D010636:Phenols; D011108:Polymers; D014508:Urea; C028278:urea formaldehyde foam; C011529:phenol-formaldehyde resin; C005969:4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds