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Kim, Kim, Hong, Chun, Kim, Kim, Lee, Shin, Koh, and Roh: Prevalence of Occupational Asthma in TDI-Exposed Workers
Original Article

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2004; 16(2): 191-199.

Published online: 30 January 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2004.16.2.191

Prevalence of Occupational Asthma in TDI-Exposed Workers

Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Cheol Woo Kim, Yun Chul Hong, Hyung Joon Chun, Chi Nyon Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Jee Na Lee, Joo Yeon Shin, Dong Hee Koh, Jaehoon Roh

Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea.

Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Korea.

Department of Occupational Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Korea.

Center of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospita, Korea.

jhroh@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Copyright © 2004 The Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

This study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of isocyanate-induced occupational asthma in toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposed workers.

METHODS

We examined 170 workers who had been directly exposed to TDI through a medical questionnaire, physical examination, and pulmonary function test. Based on screening examination, workers with suspected occupational asthma were selected for further evaluation such as methacholine and TDI challenge tests.

RESULTS

Eleven (6.9%) among 170 workers complained of symptoms of occupational asthma, and 7 among these 11 symptomatic workers showed positive responses to the methacholine challenge test (4.1%). One spray painter was confirmed as having the TDI induced occupational asthma following a positive response to TDI challenge test.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of TDI-induced asthma was at 0.58% was lower than that for former studies (2-20%). Improved workplace environment, lower level of TDI exposure compared to the past, and the healthy workers effect may have contributed to this low rate of asthma prevalence in workers with TDI exposure.

Keywords: Occupational asthma, TDI, Prevalence

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