Conference Chairs & Themes
James Lockey MD, Scientific Chair (U of Cincinnati)
Section Chairs
Worker and consumer exposure issues
Andrew Comai MS (UAW) & Andrea Pfahles-Hutchens MS (EPA)
Environmental exposure/monitoring
Robert P. Streicher PhD (NIOSH)
Occupational health surveillance/management
John Holland MD, MPH (Occupational Medicine Consultant)
Philip Harber MD, MPH (University of Arizona)
Toxicity testing/animal models/biomarkers
Pertti (Bert) J. Hakkinen PhD (NIH/NLM)
Respiratory epidemiology and disease
Mark J. Utell MD (U of Rochester)
Carrie Redlich MD, MPH (Yale University)
Human cancer risk
Gary L. Ellison PhD, MPH (NCI)
Organization Sponsors
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American Academy of Clinical Toxicologists

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

American Industrial Hygiene Association

American Thoracic Society

Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability

Canadian Thoracic Society

European Society for Environmental and Occupational Medicine

Occupational and Environmental Medical Association of Canada

Occupational Medicine Specialists of Canada

Society for Risk Analysis

Society of Toxicology
International Call for Papers

Deadline for Poster Submission
February 18, 2013
www.isocyanates2012.org
Learning Objectives
by Section Theme
Worker and consumer exposure issues
• Recognize critical problems/ issues/methods associated with determining curing
times of diisocyanates in products.
• Describe conditions under which workers and consumers can be exposed to
products containing uncured diisocyanates.
• Identify ways in which worker, consumer and bystander exposures to isocyanates
can be reduced or eliminated during use of isocyanate-containing products.
• Critically reflect on case reports identifying health effects experienced by both
workers and consumers exposed during isocyanate production or use of products
containing diisocyanates.
• Characterize industry sectors, their various exposures and the health effects from
the processes and products containing isocyanates.
• Consider and discuss community exposures from manufacturing facilities and certain
application processes and the challenges associated with biomonitoring.
Environmental Exposure/Monitoring
• Discuss the available measurement methods for isocyanates in air and the factors that
influence method selection.
• Describe the techniques that are used to assess dermal exposure to isocyanates and
the unique challenges associated with assessing dermal exposure.
• Discuss how users of various sampling and analytical methods that differ in the scope
of their measurement (monomers, oligomers, total isocyanate) can evaluate the results
relative to existing occupational exposure limits.
• Describe techniques and strategies for measurement of isocyanate species formed
during use of isocyanate products or polyurethanes, such as partial reaction products
or thermal degradation products.
• Identify the most important directions for future research in environmental
exposure/monitoring of isocyanates.
Occupational health surveillance/management
• Understand current methods for identifying possible occupational asthma cases in
persons who work around isocyanates, and discuss appropriate workplace
management of cases
• Summarize the body of scientific studies of isocyanate exposed worker cohorts, and
what this says about disease mechanics and effectiveness of preventive strategies
• Describe components of model occupational health programs, involving both
industrial hygiene and occupational health elements
• Explain methods for longitudinal assessment of spirometry, and its utility in medical
surveillance of workers exposed to isocyanates, to identify early health effects and
prevent disability
• Describe scientific evidence about work practices and protective measures to
prevent adverse health effects for workers potentially exposed to isocyanates
• Describe methods and principles that might lead to more precise and proactive
medical surveillance approaches for worker groups exposed to isocyanates, and how
this data may aid research
Toxicity testing/animal models/biomarkers
• Describe and discuss the state-of-the-science approaches for the toxicity testing of
isocyanates,
• Reflect on the state-of-the-science for biomarkers of exposure, effect, and
susceptibility for isocyanates.
• Identify which isocyanates have been most extensively studied for their toxic
potentials, and as biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility.
• Discuss limitations of existing types of toxicity tests and biomarkers for use in exposure,
toxicity, and risk assessments.
• Identify key toxicity-related data gaps and biomarker-related data gaps to inform the
creation of future research priorities.
Respiratory epidemiology and disease
• Discuss and describe the wide spectrum of respiratory diseases associated with
isocyanate exposure
• Identify the clinical characteristics of isocyanate-induced asthma – evaluation,
treatment and prevention
• Describe the natural history of respiratory disease in isocyanate-exposed workers
• Discuss and describe the variability of the immunological responses induced by
isocyanates
Human cancer risk
• Discuss and critically appraise current literature investigating risk of human cancer in
populations exposed to isocyanates.
• State the potential cancer site(s) and population groups potentially at risk for cancer
from isocyanate exposure.
• Describe the means by which exposure to isocyanates is measured in humans.
• Name the isocyanate compounds most extensively studied for their health effects.
• Describe common methodological issues associated with investigating isocyanates and
cancer risk in occupational settings and define potential mechanisms by which
isocyanates might cause cancer.