Isocyanic acid and hot work

Isocyanic acid (ICA) is in itself never used in Norwegian industry processes, but it can be a result of degradation or contamination when manufacturing urea.
The first report of ICA being generated by thermal decomposition of polyurethane- and urea-formaldehyde-resins was in 1999.
This led to an increased focus on occupational exposure to ICA related to various types of hot work (welding, gas cutting, etc.) on polyurethane- and urea-formaldehyde-resin based materials.

These materials are often used in auto- and mechanical workshops, in offshore industries and foundries etc.
From an occupational hygienic point of view, ICA has been regarded as an isocyanate, even though in chemical terms it is not defined as such.
Negative health effects after exposure to isocyanates are well documented, but there are not enough toxicological data available.
This is most likely due to the fact that ICA is a non-stable compound under normal pressure and temperature settings – this complicates studies.
With this project, the physiochemical characteristics of ICA are studied regarding stability and potential for inhalation at normal pressure and temperature settings.
Furthermore relevant methodologies for exposure measurements will be developed, evaluated and compared for measuring ICA in working atmospheres.
The best of these methods will be applied for surveying exposure to ICA in relevant industries.

Project page in Norwegian