SYMPTOMS INDICATIVE OF THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC-SOLVENT EXPOSURE IN DUTCH PAINTERS

The report describes the results of a cross-sectional study among two groups of young and older painters and two age-matched control groups. The study was intended to gather information on the occurrence of sol vent-exposure symptoms among Dutch workers using a mailed questionnair e. Results indicated that among young painters and to a lesser extent among older painters what is commonly accepted as specific symptoms an d additional solvent-related symptoms showed a higher frequency than a mong the controls. The most interesting observation was a significant relationship between the frequency of periods of heavy exposure and th e severity of most symptom categories, whereas there was a lack of con sistent relationships with other exposure parameters.