Department of Health and Human Services

N.C. Community Health Study:
Exposure to TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate) and
Respiratory Health

TDI, or toluene diisocyanate, is a chemical used to make many household products, including foam for furniture cushions and some sealants. TDI is released into the environment during some manufacturing activities. The chemical sometimes causes asthma and other health problems in workers who are exposed to it, but little is currently known about possible exposures outside the workplace.

Public health experts from the N.C. Division of Public Health and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have been  working together on a 2007-2010 public health study about the chemical TDI. The study staff  collected information in five North Carolina communities that are near companies that use TDI and in five communities that are located farther away. By comparing the results from both types of communities, public health experts  looked for patterns of community exposure and community health, but not the health of specific individuals.

375 adult residents  participated in the study. About half live near TDI sources and half live in other areas. The study did not include children.

The study team tested air samples for TDI, asked volunteers for a sample of their blood, and asked them questions about their respiratory health. The volunteers were compensated for their time and  received the results of their individual tests. Their individual results and personal identifiers  are kept strictly confidential.

The selected communities are in Catawba, Randolph, Guilford and Mecklenburg counties [see maps]. The study team held meetings in each community where volunteers were needed [see meeting schedule]. Representatives from companies that use TDI were also invited to these information sessions to answer community questions.

An advisory panel, consisting of representatives from the medical, public health, and scientific communities; industry; and the general public, was created to advise the study team on local communications issues related to the study and to ensure open dialogue among the stakeholders.

The study activities began in May 2007. The study staff completed the field work in the communities in January 2008. Since then, the data was analyzed and the report was sent for review by expert scientists outside of the state and federal government. The researchers have been educating the medical community on how to interpret individual and overall study results for their patients.

The report is now available In English and Spanish on line at the link below (TSD Community Report).

For more information

…about the study

• N.C. Community Health Study: Exposure to TDI (Toluene Diisocyanate) and Respiratory Health (PowerPoint presentation)
• TDI Community Health Report (English (pdf*), Spanish (pdf*))
• N.C. Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) Community Health Study (English brochure; pdf*)
• Estudio de Salud Comunitaria en Carolina del Norte sobre el Disocianato de Tolueno (TDI) (Spanish brochure; pdf*)
• Answers to frequently asked questions (pdf*)
• Companies and comparison communities selected for the study (pdf*)
• N.C. TDI study protocol (technical; pdf*)
• N.C. TDI Community Health Study Advisory Panel
• Maps of study areas
• Public availability sessions
• NC DHHS news releases

…about TDI

• TDI fact sheet – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

…about the agencies conducting the study

• N.C. Division of Public Health
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Other helpful sites:

• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• N.C. Division of Air Quality

Questions? Contact the N.C. CARE-LINE information and Referral Service toll-free at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY for the hearing impaired is 1-877-452-2514). (Note: CARE-LINE staff will never ask callers for bank account or credit card information.)

*Some resources are in a pdf format to make reading and printing easier. You may need to download the free software Adobe Reader 9.0 (or higher) to access them.

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Page last updated on April 04, 2011