Hemoglobin adducts in workers exposed to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate

Abstract

We investigated the utility of 1,6-hexamethylene diamine (HDA) hemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of exposure to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) monomer. Blood samples from 15 spray painters applying HDI-containing paint were analyzed for hemoglobin HDA (HDA-Hb) and N-acetyl-1,6-hexamethylene diamine (monoacetyl-HDA-Hb) by GC-MS. HDA-Hb was detected in the majority of workers (≤1.2–37 ng/g Hb), whereas monoacetyl-HDA-Hb was detected in one worker (0.06 ng/g Hb). The stronger, positive association between HDA-Hb and cumulative HDI exposure (r² = 0.3, p < 0.06) than same day exposure (p ≥ 0.13) indicates long-term elimination kinetics for HDA-Hb adducts. This association demonstrates the suitability of HDA-Hb adducts for further validation as a biomarker of HDI exposure.

Keywords::

• 1,6-hexamethylene diamine (HDA)
• hemoglobin
• adduct
• biomarker
• 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)

Acknowledgements

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board in the Office of Human Research Ethics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and by the Washington State Institutional Review Board (WSIRB) at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Service. We thank the automobile-repair shop workers who volunteered to participate in this study and the Safety and Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP) program (Olympia, WA).

Declaration of interest

This study was supported by grants from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (R01-OH007598 and T42/CCT422952), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P30ES10126), and American Chemistry Council (RSK0015-01).