title: Asthma Symptoms and Specific IgE Levels among Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) Exposed Workers in Tehran, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is an imperative chemical substance used in the production of polyurethane foams, elastomers, paints and coatings that cause a variety of health problems in workers who are exposed in work places. This study aimed to determine the asthma symptoms and serum specific IgE levels in TDI exposed workers and comparing the results with healthy control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the plants that use TDI in the manufacturing of paint and glue in the west of Tehran Province entered to the study and all the workers (550) completed modified initial questionnaire of the NIOSH, the questions were consisted of asthma symptoms. For each symptomatic exposed worker one healthy, sex and age matched control selected. Total IgE and Specific TDI IgE tests were done for each case and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 550 TDI exposed workers, 26(4.7%) had asthma symptoms. Nine (34.6%) of symptomatic workers who were exposed to TDI were active cigarette consumer versus 3(11.5%) unexposed workers, P=0.049(CI= 0.953-17.29) OR=4.059. Nine (34.6%) workers had positive family history of atopy versus 1(3.8%) unexposed workers, P=0.0138 (CI= 1.45-305.41) OR=13.24. TDI specific IgE was found in 2 TDI exposed workers and 1 unexposed worker (P=0.5). Mean of total IgE was 339.05 in exposed workers (P=0.201).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides clinical and paraclinical data of workers exposed to TDI and points to a relation between atopy and smoking habit with asthma symptoms that offer preventing recommendations for TDI exposed workers and their heath administrators.
authors.affiliation: Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Laleh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.forename: Raheleh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shokouhi Shoormasti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heydar Nazhad
authors.forename: Saied
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bokaie
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fazlollahi
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sadeghniiat Haghighi
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pourpak
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moin
keywords: Asthma symptoms; IgE; Iran; Toluene diisocyanate (TDI)