LOUDON, Tenn.—A Polyurethane Foam Association study said workers in flexible polyurethane foam plants have a lower incidence of occupational asthma than the general adult population.
The Washington, D.C.-based law firm of McIntyre & Lemon P.L.L.C. performed the study for the PFA. The law firm collected and analyzed data from PU foam plants in surveys conducted in 1988-2007 and 2008-2011.
The first survey provided data on 1,300 workers in 23 manufacturing sites, and the second provided data on 1,037 workers in 38 sites, the PFA said.
According to the data surveyed in the study, incidents of self-reported occupational asthma amounted to only about 1 percent of current PU foam workers and 2 percent over the past 24 years.
The study suggests that workers in surveyed plants were protected from chemical exposure by modern control technologies and thorough training, the PFA said.
"The results reflect the effectiveness of our industry's safety measures and our historical dedication to providing a clean air environment for our workers," said PFA Executive Director Bob Luedeka.