OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO WATER-BASED PAINT AND SYMPTOMS FROM THE SKINAND EYES

Water based paints contain organic solvents and many additives, such a s biocides, surfactants, pigments, binders, amines, and monomers. The chemical complexity may introduce new potential health hazards to hous e painters, in particular irritative and allergic disorders. This stud y was performed to compare how house painters experience work with wat er based paints or solvent based paints, and to evaluate whether expos ure to water based paints increases mucous membrane and dermal symptom s among house painters. 255 male house painters aged 20 to 65 were inv ited to participate in the study. Controls were two industrial populat ions, in total 302 men, without exposure to water based paints. Self a dministered questionnaires were used to assess the painter's experienc es of working with different types of paints and the occurrence of sym ptoms in the exposed and unexposed groups. Hygiene measurements were p erformed during normal working days when only water based paints and n o solvent based paints were used. The painters were exposed to low con centrations of dust, metals, ammonia, formaldehyde, and volatile organ ic compounds. The work environment was considered better when working with water based paints than with solvent based paints. There were mor e complaints of frequent urination when working with water based paint . Taste or olfactory disturbances were less common. General as well as work related eye and skin irritation was more common among the expose d workers. For other symptoms no significant differences were found. T he study indicates that the introduction of water based paints has imp roved the work environment for house painters. Water based paints caus e less discomfort and airway irritation than the earlier solvent based paints. Adverse general health effects seem low. Some of the painters may have dermal symptoms caused by the components in water based pain ts.