Development of methods to evaluate direct-reading monitors for airborne isocyanate homopolymers, evaluation of various commercially available models, and preparation a report for clients in the prevention network Abstract Isocyanates, widely used in Quebec, are the leading cause of occupational asthma. Several companies use direct-reading monitors to evaluate the concentrations of airborne isocyanates. In theory, these monitors, designed to produce real-time read-outs of ambient concentrations, should facilitate rapid detection of increases in concentration, identification of emission sources, and rapid emergency response. However, these devices have never been evaluated and their reliability was unknown at the time this study was undertaken. The IRSST, in collaboration with the International Isocyanate Institute (III), evaluated the five most common direct-reading monitors used to measure various isocyanates (PMDI). Commercial calibration under typical usage conditions was found to lead to inaccurate PMDI estimates in four of the five monitors, with observed values ranging from 50% to 1000% of the true value. Monitor response was particularly dependent on manufacturers calibration, which was often inadequate, humidity levels, and the isocyanate species present. These results highlight the need for prudence in interpreting results obtained from direct-reading monitors. Despite their observed limitations, these monitors may nevertheless prove for qualitative exposure monitoring, e.g. during modifications of industrial processes, spills, and sudden leaks. Produced Under this Project Scientific Reports Development of a methodology to evaluate direct-reading monitors for isocyanate prepolymers in aerosol form Research Report: R-274 Simplified Articles Les appareils à lecture directe (ALD) pour la mesure des isocyanates, fiables ou pas? Volume 15, n0 1 Scientific Publications A comparative study of EI and MAB ionization techniques for the analysis of thermal degradation products of a MDI-based polyurethaneBoutin M., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Obarewicz S., Bertrand M.Source : Proceedings of the 49th American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Symposium, May 27-31, 2001, Chicago, Illinois, 2001Evaluation of the surespot direct-reading instrument for the determination of polymeric MDI aerosolsLesage J., Paradis J., Obarewicz S., Ostiguy C., Karoly W., Van Tra H.Source : Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, vol. 17, no 8, 2002, p. 543-550Method development for evaluating direct reading instruments under laboratory conditions to measure airborne concentrations of polymeric MDILesage J., Ostiguy C., Paradis J., Karoly B.Source : In International Symposium on Isocyanates in Occupational Environments (1st : June 19-21, 2000 : Stockholm, Sweden), 2000Évaluation d’appareils à lecture directe pour la détermination des homopolymères d’isocyanatesParadis J., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H.Source : in Congrès de l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail / AQHSST, (21e : 28-30 avril, 1999 : Québec, Canada), 1999, p. 225-233L’évaluation du dosimètre SureSpot pour la détermination des bases génériques de MDI dans l’airLesage J., Paradis J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H.Source : in La prévention au troisième millénaire: l'action au quotidien : Congrès de l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail / AQHSST, (22e : 24-26 mai, 2000 : Québec, Canada), 2000Évaluation d’appareils à lecture directe pour la détermination des homopolymères d’isocyanatesParadis J., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H.Source : in Colloque Toxen (9 décembre, 1999 : Montréal, Canada), 1999Development of Methods for Evaluating Direct-Reading Instruments for Determining the Concentration of Isocyanate HomopolymersParadis J., Van Tra H., Parekh P., Lesage J., Ostiguy C.Source : In Proceedings of the 1999 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and exhibition / AIHCE, (June 5-11, 1999 : Toronto, Canada), 1999Calibration of a Direct-Reading Airborne MDI Monitor for Monitoring HDI Biuret and HDI Isocyanurate AerosolsGardner C. W., Lesage J., Ostiguy C.Source : In Proceedings of the 1999 American Industrial Hygiene Conference and exhibition / AIHCE, (June 5-11, 1999 : Toronto, Canada), 1999Évaluation d’appareils à lecture directe pour la détermination des homopolymères d’isocyanatesParadis J., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H.Source : in Colloque des étudiants-chercheurs en chimie et biochimie, (5 mai, 1999 : Montréal, Canada), Université du Québec, 1999Développement de méthodes d'évaluation d'un appareil à lecture directe pour la détermination des homopolymères d'isocyanatesParadis J., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H.Source : In Congrès de l'Association canadienne-française pour l'avancement des sciences / ACFAS (66e : 11-15 mai, 1998 : Québec, Canada), 1998Inflammatory responses in swine confinement building workers during summerBonlokke J., Nehmé B., Radu A., Mériaux A., Godbout S., Duchaine C., Cormier Y.Source : in American Thoracic Society International Conference : ATS 2006 (May 19-24, 2006, San Diego, USA), 2006, p. A19Dossier isocyanates : Les appareils à lecture directe sont-ils fiables?Obarewicz S., Ostiguy C., Lesage J., Paradis J., Van Tra H.Source : Travail et santé, vol. 17, no 4, 2001, p. 9-13Évaluation d'appareils à lecture directe pour la détermination des homopolymères d'isocyanatesParadis J., Lesage J., Ostiguy C., Van Tra H.Source : in La prévention au troisième millénaire: l'action au quotidien : Congrès de l'Association québécoise pour l'hygiène, la santé et la sécurité du travail / AQHSST, (22e : 24-26 mai, 2000 : Québec, Canada), 2000 Additional Information Type: Project Number: 0099-0380 Status: Completed Year of completion: 2001 Research Field: Chemical and Biological Hazard Prevention Team: Jacques Lesage (IRSST)Claude Ostiguy (IRSST)