HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS-LIKE REACTION AND OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA ASSOCIATED WITH 1,3-BIS(ISOCYANATOMETHYL) CYCLOHEXANE PRE-POLYMER

Twenty-three of 34 workers who had worked in the injection molding ope ration making polyurethane foam parts at an automobile parts manufactu ring plant developed respiratory symptoms and/or systemic symptoms ove r a 2-month period following the full production use of a new diisocya nate paint that contained 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane pre-pol ymer (BIC) (CAS #75138-76-0, 38661-72-2). At 3 months, all subjects un derwent an interview, physical examination, pre- mad post-shift pulmon ary function tests, and either methacholine challenge test or bronchod ilator challenge at an occupational health clinic. The most frequently cited symptoms were dyspnea (65%), cough (61%), chest tightness (57%) , chills (57%), wheezing (30%), and myalgias, arthralgias, and nausea (26%). Thirteen subjects had either a positive methacholine challenge test or a positive response to bronchodilator challenge, making the ov erall prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness 38%. The overall preval ence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like reactions among line operato rs in the injection molding process was 27%. This disease outbreak sug gests that 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane pre-polymer may cause asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like reactions. The use of BI C was discontinued 6 months after the first workers developed symptoms . (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.