Abstract
Lung sensitization and asthma are the main health effects of 4,4′-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Albumin adducts (isocyanate specific adducts) of MDI might be involved in the etiology of sensitization reactions. Albumin adducts of MDI have been found in subjects classified as 4,4′-methylenedianiline (MDA) workers. The mean adduct levels in these MDA-workers were 1.5 times higher than in MDI-workers of the same company. MDA-specific hemoglobin adducts, were present ten times more in the MDA-workers than in the MDI-workers. MDA-workers with specific work task had significantly higher albumin adduct levels.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the volunteers for participating in the study. The authors would like to thank Dr.J. Lewalter for the collection of the samples and for the determination of the phenotypes.
Disclosure statement
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.
Funding information
We are most grateful for the financial support of the Tulane Cancer Center.