Completion of an exposure chamber for the diagnosis of occupational asthma caused by isocyanate prepolymers

Abstract

Occupational asthma is the most common occupational pulmonary disease, and isocyanates are the main cause of this illness. Bronchial challenge tests are the primary tools for diagnosing occupational asthma. These tests, conducted under controlled conditions and medical supervision, consist of having patients inhale substances capable of inducing asthma. In recent years, this research team has developed equipment for exposing workers to gaseous isocyanates and various contaminant vapours. In this project, the team developed an exposure chamber for isocyanate prepolymer aerosols. The chamber is capable of maintaining stable concentrations of 5-100 ppb of aerosol particles with aerodynamic diameters of 1-3 µm. Use of this chamber should improve the quality of diagnosis.

Produced Under this Project

Scientific Publications

Étude comparative d'échantillonnage du 1,6-hexamethylène diisocyanate (HDI) et de ses prépolymères (PHDI)
Tremblay P., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H
Source :
Travail et santé, vol. 17, no 1, 2001, p. S2-S5
Occupational asthma caused by a prepolymer but not the monomer of toluene diisocyanate
Vandenplas O., Cartier A., Lesage J., Perrault G., Grammer L. C.
Source :
Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology, vol. 89, no 6, 1992, p. 1183-1188
Exaggerated bronchoconstriction due to inhalation challenges with occupational agents
Malo J.-L., Cartier A., Lemière C., Desjardins A., Labrecque M., L'Archevêque J., Perrault G., Lesage J., Cloutier Y.
Source :
European Respiratory Journal, vol. 23, no 2, 2004, p. 300-303
Le développement analytique en hygiène industrielle : plus que des normes
Lesage J.
Source :
in Colloque "L'asthme au travail - Prenez les devants", (10 décembre, 2004 : Montréal, Canada), 2004

Additional Information

Type: Project

Number: 0094-0500

Status: Completed

Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention

Team:

Guy Perrault (IRSST)
Jean-Luc Malo (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur)
Yves Cloutier (IRSST)
Jacques Lesage (IRSST)
André Cartier (Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur)