Furfuryl alcohol

Exposure related observations in humans: other data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

exposure-related observations in humans: other data

Type of information:

experimental study

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Non- GLP, non-guideline, human workplace investigation, minor restrictions in design and/or reporting but otherwise adequate for assessment.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Impeded lung function in moulders and coremakers handling furan resin sand

Author:

Ahman M, et al

Year:

1991

Bibliographic source:

Int. Arch Occup Environ Health (1991) 63:175-180

Materials and methods

Type of study / information:

Effects on human lung function after occupational exposure to furan resin sand.

Endpoint addressed:

respiratory irritation

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Deviations:

not applicable

Principles of method if other than guideline:

Moulders and core makers exposed to furan resin sand and unexposed local controls were examined by lung-function tests before and after a work shift. Furfuryl alcohol and formaldehyde (emitted from the furan resin sand) was measured from the breathing zone of exposed workers during their work shift.

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

based either on urea-formaldehyde resin containing 50%-95% furfuryl alcohol or on a phenol-fortified resin containing 50% furfuryl alcohol

IUPAC Name:

based either on urea-formaldehyde resin containing 50%-95% furfuryl alcohol or on a phenol-fortified resin containing 50% furfuryl alcohol

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Furfuryl alcohol
- Other : Foundry workers were exposed to furan resin binders based either on urea-formaldehyde resin containing 50%-95% furfuryl alcohol or on a phenol-fortified resin containing 50% furfuryl alcohol.
Toluene-sulphonic acid (PTS) or a mixture of PTS and phosphoric acid was used as hardener. The moulding sand contained some quartz. A few moulders and coremakers were exposed to organic solvents during coating of cores and moulds with a mixture containing, for example, graphite, ceramic material, and isopropanol or isopropanol and ethanol. Some moulders were also exposed to low levels of inorganic gases from recovered moulding sand.

Method

Ethical approval:

not applicable

Remarks:

Occupational exposure

Details on study design:

Lung function tests were performed before and after a work shift in moulders and coremakers exposed to furan resins and in unexposed local controls. Exposure measurements included a combination of measurements, observations and interviews for the determination of the mean exposure level for each working moment and the time weighed average (TWA) exposures for different contaminants.

Exposure assessment:

measured

Details on exposure:

TYPE OF EXPOSURE: Occupational

TYPE OF EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT: Personal sampling.
Sampling was repeated several times during the working day, and the sampling period amounted to about 15-30 minutes for each test. Peak exposures during different times at work were measured by a direct reading instrument.

EXPOSURE LEVELS: 50%-95% furfuryl alcohol in furan resin binders based on urea-formaldehyde resin or 50% furfuryl alcohol in furan resin binders based on a phenol-fortified resin.

EXPOSURE PERIOD: Entire work shift

POSTEXPOSURE PERIOD: Group A - furan exposed workers were studied following 2 days without exposure.

DESCRIPTION OF EXPOSURE GROUPS :
GROUP A - 28 subjects (average age 37 years), employed full-time in furan resin sand moulding or core-making processes for >3 months. On average they had been employed in moulding or core-making for 15 years and had been exposed to furan resin sand for 7 years. 27 controls, employed at a nearby factory, who had not been exposed to furan resin sands or toerh airway irritants, were observed .
Control group was similar to exposed group in age, sex, height and smoking habits.

GROUP B - in a supplementary study, 11 workers (average age 46 years, 5 smokers) exposed to furan resin sands for an average of 12 years were examined for lung-function effects at the alveolar level.

Results and discussion

Results:

The mean TWA concentration of furfuryl alcohol was 7 mg/m3. Upper range >40 mg/m3 for short periods in 6 workers.
During the work shift studied, the 28 workers exposed to furan resins had more symptoms of airways irritation than the unexposed control workers, and showed an average decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) of 0.21, but no reduction in any other lung function variables. The other 11 exposed workers showed a post-shift decrease in total lung capacity (TLC).

Any other information on results incl. tables

Table 1. Group A workers – incidence of symptoms in the mucous membranes and airways,as determined during the day of study

 

Symptoms involving:	Exposed (n= 28)	Controls (n = 27)
Eyes	3 (1)	1(1)
Nose	8 (5)	3(0)
Thorat	11*(6)	0(0)
Dyspnea	2 (1)	1(1)
Wheezing	1 (0)	0(0)
Chest "oppression"	0 (0)	0(0)
Cough	6 (2)	1(1)

* P<0.001

Figures in parentheses represent the number of smokers

Table 2. Increase or decrease in spirometry and nitrogen washout over a work shift (Tuesday or Wednesday) in Group A workers

 

	FVC (L)	FEV1 (L)	FEV%	CV%	Phase III %N2/L
Exposed (n = 28)	-0.18*-**± 0.21	-0.07 ± 0.26	+1.1**±5.3	0	± 5.3
Controls(n=27)	0.00	±0.31	-1.8	±4.2	+1.1±3.6

Data represent mean values ± SD; +, increase; -, decrease

* P < 0.01 (paired t-test), ** P < 0.05 (unpaired t-test vs local control value)

 

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The results of lung functions tests before and after a work shift of subjects exposed to furan resin sand indicated an acute restrictiveness was induced , but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Chronic impairment of lung function was not observed.

Executive summary:

A total of 39 moulders and coremakers exposed to furan resin sand and 27 unexposed local controls were examined by lung-function tests before and after a work shift In all, 28 of the subjects exposed to furan resin sand and the control group were evaluated by dynamic spirometry and nitrogen washout. The remaining 11 subjects exposed to furan resin sand were studied using both static and dynamic spirometry and the CO single-breath technique. The time-weighted average exposure to furfuryl alcohol was about 7 mg/m³, with peak values exceeding the present Swedish short-term exposure limit (40 mg/m³). The exposure to respirable dust and formaldehyde as time-weighted over the shift was <2 mg/m³and 0 4 mg/m³, respectively, in all groups. During the work shift studied, the 28 exposed subjects had more complaints of airway symptoms than did the controls, showing an average decrease of 0.21 in forced vital capacity but no fall in any other lung-function variable. The remaining 11 exposed subjects demonstrated a post-shift decrease in total lung capacity. The results indicate an acute restrictiveness induced by exposure to furan resin sand, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Chronic impairment of lung function was not observed.