Background and objectives: Despite its advantages over environmental monitoring, biological monitoring of exposure to 2,4-:2,6-toluene diisocyanate (TDI) mixtures is still underused. The present study was designed in order to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of biological monitoring in a factory producing polyurethane foam blocks.
Methods: Airborne TDI isomers were sampled by both static and personal pumps and determined by HPLC with fluorimetric detection. Specific metabolites 2,4- and 2,6-toluenediamine (TDA) were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on hydrolysed urine samples collected from 16 workers at the beginning of the workweek and both before (BS) and at the end (ES) of the 4th workday. Additional samples were collected at the end of the 1st half-shift and at the beginning of the 2nd half-shift in 5 workers.
Results: In the foam production shop, TDI values were on average about 20 microg/m3, with higher levels in the 2nd half-shift and peak levels in workers operating along the polymerization tunnel. Average TDI levels were significantly correlated with ES TDA concentrations (p < 0.0001). TDA showed a fast urinary elimination phase leading to progressively higher TDA levels either during the shift (5 workers) and at the end-of-shift. A slower elimination phase with a weekly accumulation was demonstrated by values at the beginning of the workweek (higher than in unexposed subjects) and by their elevation in subsequent BS samples.
Conclusions: The study demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of biological monitoring in workers exposed to 2,4-:2, 6-TDI mixtures. This approach can provide information about both the daily and weekly exposure levels.