Toluene Diisocyanate-Linked Ocupational Airflow Obstruction and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Patterns among Foam Makers

ABSTRACT

This study looked at the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and airflow obstruction; and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) variation between production workers and control workers (both inside and outside work; linked to the foam-making industry at Onitsha; south -east Nigeria. A cross-sectional case control study was conducted among 199 randomly selected workers from five major foam companies.Subjects were grouped into exposed (production workers) and control; and a modified structured four-part Guidelines for Health Surveillance for Isocyanates questionnaire was administered. The workers had their PEFR values individually assessed during work on Friday and before resumption of work the following Monday morning for a period of 6 months. A total of 199 subjects were recruited (129 production workers; 70 control workers). There was a higher proportion of respiratory symptoms among the exposed group (53) compared with the controls (34) (p0.02). It was concluded that airflow obstruction and respiratory symptoms are common among workers in foam industries exposed to toluene diisocyanate