He. Myer et al., A SURVEY OF AIRBORNE HDI, HDI-BASED POLYISOCYANATE AND SOLVENT CONCENTRATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF POLYURETHANE COATINGS, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal, 54(11), 1993, pp. 663-670
This study summarizes the results of industrial hygiene surveys perfor
med between 1979 and 1987 in paint manufacturing and application opera
tions using polyurethane coatings containing hexamethylene diisocyanat
e (HDI) and HDI-based polyisocyanates (trade flame Desmodur N). A tota
l of 466 Desmodur N and 457 HDI samples were collected from 47 operati
ons most of which were in application. The application surveys covered
manufacture and refinishing of transportation vehicles, painting of l
arge military and civilian equipment, industrial finishing operations,
and maintenance and construction operations. The primary objective of
the surveys was to assess the potential exposure to HDI and HDI-based
polyisocyanate. In more than 60% of the surveys, concentrations of ai
rborne organic solvents also were monitored. Isocyanates were sampled
using toluene/nitroreagent in midget impingers, and solvents were coll
ected using charcoal tubes. They were analyzed using high pressure liq
uid chromatography and gas chromatography, respectively. The data from
these workplace situations show there is some potential for isocyanat
e overexposure of unprotected workers and that it is greater in spray
than in nonspray operations.