BACKGROUND Offspring of asthmatic mothers have increased risk of developing asthma, based on human epidemiologic data and experimental animal models. The objective of this study was to determine whether maternal allergy at non-pulmonary sites can increase asthma risk in offspring. METHODS BALB/c female mice received 2 topical applications of vehicle, dinitrochlorobenzene, or toluene diisocyan...

On July 4, 2014, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) released the draft document, Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Reference Exposure Levels: Technical Support Document for the Derivation of Noncancer Reference Exposure Levels to solicit public comment. Responses to comments received on the draft methylene diphenyl diisocyanate reference exposure levels (RELs) are provid...

the isocyanates are widely used as precursors of polyurethane products, as well as carbamate insecticides. toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (tdi) is one of the most important commercially used isocyanates. humans may be exposed to tdi by inhalation, ingestion, dermal and eye contact. tdi is a powerful irritant to the mucosal membranes of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, eyes and the skin. p...

Isocyanate exposure in the workplace has been linked to asthma and allergic rhinitis. Recently, investigators have proposed that Th2 cytokine responses in lymph nodes draining the site of dermal application of chemicals including isocyanates may be used to identify sensitizers that cause asthma-like responses. The purpose of this study was to determine if the cytokine profile induced after derm...

Cytokine profiling of local lymph node responses has been proposed as a simple test to identify chemicals, such as low molecular weight diisocyanates, that pose a significant risk of occupational asthma. Previously, we reported cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) profiles for dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and six isocyanates: toluene diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane-...

Chemicals in any form can be safely stored, handled or used if the physical, chemical, and hazardous properties are fully unders tood, and if proper precautions, including the use of adequate safeguards and personal protection equipment, are taken. In this paper , the chemicals to be considered are the g roup of chemicals known as polyisocyanates, a n d the methods of every-day handling of them...

The discovery of polyurethane [PU] dates back to the year 1937 by Otto Bayer and his coworkers at the laboratories of I.G. Farben in Leverkusen, Germany. The initial works focussed on PU products obtained from aliphatic diisocyanate and diamine forming polyurea, till the interesting properties of PU obtained from an aliphatic diisocyanate and glycol, were realized. Polyisocyanates became commer...