Isocyanate HP

Category

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Acute/Chronic

Chronic

Comments

Acute presentation: flu-like illness with cough;
Subacute: recurrent "pneumonia";
Chronic: exertional dyspnea, productive cough, and weight loss;
The exposure occurs during the production or use of polyurethane paints, resins, or foams, and the suspected antigens are the isocyanate chemicals, e.g., TDI, MDI, or HDI. [Harber, p. 202] See "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis."

Latency/Incubation

Weeks to years until "sensitized"; acute symptoms 4-12 hours after exposure;

Diagnostic

Clinical; Chest x-ray; HRCT; Pulmonary function testing; BAL; Lung biopsy;

ICD-9 Code

495.8

ICD-10 Code

J67.8

Job Tasks

High risk job tasks associated with this disease:

• Spray epoxy or polyurethane paint, shellac, lacquer, or varnish
• Spray polyurethane foam insulation
• Use diisocyanates to manufacture polyurethane products

Agents

Hazardous agents that cause the occupational disease:

• DIISOCYANATES
• Hexamethylene diisocyanate
• Methylene bisphenyl isocyanate
• Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate
• Toluene-2,6-diisocyanate
• Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate