Product Stewardship Library

Below you will find product stewardship resources on isocyanates. The American Chemistry Council’s Center for the Polyurethanes Industry also makes available information about a wide variety of polyurethane applications, along with important health and safety information about the manufacture, transport and use of isocyanates.

• Medical Screening and Surveillance For Workers Potentially Exposed to Diisocyanates: A Guide for Workers
  This guidance document was developed under an OSHA alliance as a resource for workers and specifically addresses potential adverse health effects due to diisocyanate exposure and the role of medical screening and surveillance in preventing these effects. (2019).
• Medical Screening and Surveillance For Workers Potentially Exposed to Diisocyanates: A Guide for the Employer
  This guidance document was developed under an OSHA alliance as a resource for the employer and specifically addresses potential adverse health effects due to diisocyanate exposure and the role of medical screening and surveillance in preventing these effects. (2019).
• A Guide for the Primary Care Physician in Evaluating Diisocyanate Exposed Workers for Occupational Asthma
  This document provides clinical guidance for the physician asked to evaluate an individual who may potentially be exposed to diisocyanates at work.  » Full Report |  » Full Report (Spanish) |  » Full Report (Japanese) | » Full Report (Chinese) | » Infographic |  » Infographic (Spanish) |  » Infographic (Japanese) | » Infographic (Chinese)
• Guidance for Working with Aliphatic Diisocyanates
  This document provides information about important health and safety considerations when working with aliphatic diisocyanates.
• Infographic: Decrease in Diisocyanate-Related Occupational Asthma
  This document illustrates how product stewardship activities have contributed to a reduction in diisocyanate-related asthma cases, even as production rates of diisocyanates have increased.
• Infographic: Benefits and Uses of Aliphatic Diisocyanates
  This document illustrates how aliphatic diisocyanates can make products more durable, improve their appearance and lengthen their lifespan.
• Infographic: Diisocyanates Automotive Applications
  This document illustrates how diisocyanates are used to make many types of products found throughout automobiles that can help make vehicles stronger, lighter and more comfortable.
• Infographic: Personal Protective Equipment General Recommendations for Automotive Refinish Coating Applications
  This document was developed under an OSHA alliance to provide additional guidance on PPE recommendations for the automotive refinish coating applications.
• White Paper: Correcting the Record on IARC’s Flawed Classification of Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI)
  This document addresses the IARC carcinogenicity classification of TDI, which is based on an unrealistic exposure scenario and is not reflective of scientific consensus.
• White Paper: A Review of Whether Dermal Exposure to Diisocyanates Causes Occupational Asthma
  This document provides a review regarding the role that dermal contact with diisocyanates plays in the development of diisocyanate-related occupational asthma.
• Considerations for Modifications to NIOSH 5521 and OSHA 47 Air Sampling Methods for Diphenylmethane Diisocyanate (MDI)
  This guidance document provides considerations for modifications to the current air sampling methods for MDI - NIOSH Method 5521 and OSHA Method 47 - specific to situations in which reactive MDI aerosols may be present, such as spray applications. These modifications can improve the ability of the method to sample and derivatize MDI when present in both vapor and aerosol form.
• Considerations for Modifications to OSHA Method 42, Air Monitoring Method: Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI)
  This guidance document provides considerations for modifications to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) air sampling method for TDI: OSHA Method 42. These modifications can help improve the ability of the method to sample and derivative TDI.
• Considerations for Modifications to OSHA Method 47, Air Monitoring Method: Diphenylmethane Diisocyanate (MDI)
  This guidance document provides considerations for modifications to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) air sampling method for MDI: OSHA Method 47. These modifications can help improve the ability of the method to sample and derivatize MDI.
• Diisocyanates: The Incredible Chemical Building Block
  Did you know that every day you use many products made better with diisocyanates? Learn more about this family of chemical building blocks used to make polyurethanes for furniture, appliances, apparel and many more products.
• Automotive Refinishing Safety: Working with Diisocyanates
  CCAR worked with the Aliphatic Diisocyanates Panel of the American Chemistry Council to produce this easy to understand, instructional video for workers in the automotive refinishing industry. Diisocyanates are an incredible chemical building block that produce polyurethane paints with a high-gloss appearance, excellent resistance, and that are fast drying. Watch this short, innovative video to learn about working with these important products safely.
• Sensitization and Diisocyanate-Related Occupational Asthma
  This recorded webinar is for industry professionals involved in product safety interactions and downstream users. It provides an introduction and basic overview of available information on sensitization and diisocyanate-related occupational asthma.