- Work-related asthma is the most common occupational lung disease. There are two categories:
(1) occupational, or work-related asthma that is caused de novo by work
(2) work-exacerbated asthma, which implies a work-related worsening in the setting of preexisting asthma.
- Agents That Cause Occupational Asthma
Many agents cause occupational asthma. Two categories of agents can be classified based on molecular weight and differing mechanisms causing disease:
- High-molecular-weight (HMW) compounds (>5 to 10 kDa)
- Low-molecular-weight (LMW) compounds
Isocyanates are high-volume industrial chemicals used extensively in the production of polyurethane foams, adhesives, coatings, and elastomers. Common forms include toluene diisocyanate (TDI), methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Mostly used by people involved in Automotive and aerospace painting, Polyurethane Foam Manufacturing and Installation, Furniture, footwear manufacturing, Plastics and rubber processing
Source- Fishman 6E - Pg 1532
