Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 42 4 2013 04 15 397 401 Laleh Sharifi Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Akram Karimi Raheleh Shokouhi Shoormasti Sara Miri Hassan Heydar Nazhad Saied Bokaie Mohammad Reza Fazlollahi Khosro Sadeghniiat Haghighi Zahra Pourpak Mostafa Moin 2015 10 15 Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is an imperative chemical substance used in the production of polyurethane foams, elastomers, paints and coatings that cause a variety of health problems in workers who are exposed in work places. This study aimed to determine the asthma symptoms and serum specific IgE levels in TDI exposed workers and comparing the results with healthy control group.All the plants that use TDI in the manufacturing of paint and glue in the west of Tehran Province entered to the study and all the workers (550) completed modified initial questionnaire of the NIOSH, the questions were consisted of asthma symptoms. For each symptomatic exposed worker one healthy, sex and age matched control selected. Total IgE and Specific TDI IgE tests were done for each case and control groups.Among 550 TDI exposed workers, 26(4.7%) had asthma symptoms. Nine (34.6%) of symptomatic workers who were exposed to TDI were active cigarette consumer versus 3(11.5%) unexposed workers, P=0.049(CI= 0.953-17.29) OR=4.059. Nine (34.6%) workers had positive family history of atopy versus 1(3.8%) unexposed workers, P=0.0138 (CI= 1.45-305.41) OR=13.24. TDI specific IgE was found in 2 TDI exposed workers and 1 unexposed worker (P=0.5). Mean of total IgE was 339.05 in exposed workers (P=0.201).This study provides clinical and paraclinical data of workers exposed to TDI and points to a relation between atopy and smoking habit with asthma symptoms that offer preventing recommendations for TDI exposed workers and their heath administrators. https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/4576 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/4576/4223