ROHM AND HAAS CHEMICALS LLC 

 MIDWEST TECHNICAL CENTER, 2531 TECHNOLOGY DR. SUITE 301 ELGIN, IL 60124 USA 

 TELEPHONE 847-649-3800 FAX 847-649-3760 

 

The information presented herein is based upon our own research and general experience and is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, you 

should conduct your own tests to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rohm and Haas product and our suggestion under your own conditions prior to 

commercial use. As you can appreciate, since the conditions of handling, use and testing are beyond our control, we make no guarantee of results and 

assume no liability for direct or consequential damages incurred by following these suggestions. Nothing contained herein is to be construed as a 

recommendation for use in violation of any patents or of applicable laws or regulations. 

Midwest Technical Center

Rohm and Haas Co. – 2531 Technology Drive Suite 301 Elgin, IL 60124 Phone: 847-649-3800 Fax: 847-649-3760

December 16, 2008 

Dear Mr. Ringelstetter, 

Rohm and Haas, as you are aware, supplies a wide range of adhesives to the packaging industry. 

requested that we share our isocyanate exposure data as discussed in our telecom of 10 December. 

We use OSHA Method 47 to assess exposure of affected workers to MDI (methylene diphenylene 

diisocyanate). Method 47 may be reviewed at 

http://www.osha.gov/dts/sltc/methods/organic/org047/org047.html. In 2004, we assessed the exposure of 

our personnel to MDI. We chose Mor-FreeTM 403A as the test adhesive. This adhesive has a high level of 

MDI monomer (18.6% based on our data contained in our Certified Product Data Sheet). Three staffers 

were tested for potential exposure to MDI with the solventless laminator running, enclosure door open, and 

personnel in front of the machine. The three levels found were: 

0.00055 ppm 

0.00041 ppm 

0.00067 ppm 

In January of 2006, our industrial hygienist monitored personnel in the use of Mor-Free 403A and 

Coreactant C-411, this time at a customer’s site. Since this was a more formal investigation, an external 

analytical laboratory was employed to perform the analysis of samples in accordance with OSHA 47. 

Two samples were collected from a point inside the laminator above the adhesive pool that is typical in a 

solventless lamination machine. The samples showed airborne concentrations of 0.0072 and 0.0086 ppm 

MDI. Normal operations of solventless laminators include an exhaust system above the adhesive pool to 

collect, filter, and exhaust adhesive mists – to minimize MDI exposure. To test the effectiveness of the 

enclosure, several area samples were collected outside the enclosure around the exterior of the laminator. 

Samples collected outside the enclosure yielded results of <0.00014 ppm (below level of detection) and 

0.00034 ppm. One of the operators was tested in duplicate during normal laminator operation and both 

results showed low exposure levels of <0.00018 ppm (below level of detection) and 0.00029 ppm. The 

continuous nature of the tasks associated with the operation of a solventless laminator and the close 

agreement of the consecutive measurements of MDI concentration are reasonable estimates of full-shift 

exposure. 
The information presented herein is based upon our own research and general experience and is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, you 

should conduct your own tests to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rohm and Haas product and our suggestion under your own conditions prior to 

commercial use. As you can appreciate, since the conditions of handling, use and testing are beyond our control, we make no guarantee of results and 

assume no liability for direct or consequential damages incurred by following these suggestions. Nothing contained herein is to be construed as a 

recommendation for use in violation of any patents or of applicable laws or regulations. 

Midwest Technical Center

Rohm and Haas Co. – 2531 Technology Drive Suite 301 Elgin, IL 60124 Phone: 847-649-3800 Fax: 847-649-3760

The key findings for the internal and external tests were (1) very low levels of airborne MDI were detected 

inside the enclosure above the adhesive pool, (2) very low levels of MDI were detected in various samples 

taken throughout the laminating process, and (3) personal exposures to MDI did not exceed OSHA 

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL = 0.02 ppm Ceiling) nor the Rohm and Haas Workplace Exposure Limit 

(WEL 8-hour TWA = 0.005 ppm). In addition, note that the airborne concentrations inside the enclosure 

above the adhesive reservoir were extremely low (0.0072 and 0.0086 ppm MDI). 

Please review the information in this document and let us know if you have any further questions or 

comments. 

Regards,