title: Residual Isocyanates in Medical Devices and Products: A Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment.
abstract: We conducted a pilot qualitative and quantitative assessment of residual isocyanates and their potential initial exposures in neonates, as little is known about their contact effect. After a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stockroom inventory, polyurethane (PU) and PU foam (PUF) devices and products were qualitatively evaluated for residual isocyanates using Surface SWYPE™. Those containing isocyanates were quantitatively tested for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) species, using UPLC-UV-MS/MS method. Ten of 37 products and devices tested, indicated both free and bound residual surface isocyanates; PU/PUF pieces contained aromatic isocyanates; one product contained aliphatic isocyanates. Overall, quantified mean MDI concentrations were low (4,4'-MDI = 0.52 to 140.1 pg/mg) and (2,4'-MDI = 0.01 to 4.48 pg/mg). The 4,4'-MDI species had the highest measured concentration (280 pg/mg). Commonly used medical devices/products contain low, but measurable concentrations of residual isocyanates. Quantifying other isocyanate species and neonatal skin exposure to isocyanates from these devices and products requires further investigation.
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.; Current Affiliation: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Gillian
authors: G
authors: Franklin
authors: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.; Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Homero
authors: H
authors: Harari
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.; CACI International Inc., Arlington, VA, USA.
authors: Samavi
authors: S
authors: Ahsan
authors: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
authors: Dhimiter
authors: D
authors: Bello
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Sterling
authors: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Nedrelow
authors: Research Administration, Cook Children's Hospital, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Raynaud
authors: Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.
authors: Swati
authors: S
authors: Biswas
authors: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors: Youcheng
authors: Y
authors: Liu
keywords: asthma; isocyanates; medical devices and products; methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; neonatal exposure; skin sensitization