OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO WATER-BASED PAINTS AND SELF-REPORTED ASTHMA,LOWER AIRWAY SYMPTOMS, BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS, AND LUNG-FUNCTION

The associations between occupational exposure to water-based paints a nd the prevalence of self-reported asthma, other lower airway symptoms , bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and lung function were studied in house painters. Symptom prevalences were obtained from a self-admin istered questionnaire sent to 415 male painters during 1989-1992. Clin ical investigations were carried out in three selected groups: 23 pain ters with asthmatic symptoms, nine painters with other lower airway sy mptoms, and 12 painters without airway symptoms. The clinical studies included lung function test, methacholine provocation test, and occurr ence of atopy, confirmed by skin prick test to common allergens. In ad dition, a group of 18 young male painters with no occupa tional exposu re to solvent-based paints were followed with dynamic spirometry befor e and after a workshift, when only water-based paints were used. The p revalence of self-reported asthma (7%) was somewhat, but not statistic ally, increased compared to an industrial population without exposure to water-based paints or other airway irritants. A decrease in FEV(1) and FVC during the workday was observed in the young painters. In the clinical studies the painters exhibited increased BHR compared to the referents and a decreased FEV(1). The number of years working as a pai nter was related to a decrease in FEV(1), which was most pronounced in subjects with atopy who also reported lower airway symptoms in relati on to the degree of work with water-based paints, but not to the degre e of use of solvent-based paints. Our results indicate that house pain ters have an increased risk of airway problems. A contributory cause c ould be exposure to volatile organic compounds or other volatile compo unds emitted from water-based paints. It is also concluded that painte rs with atopy should be informed about the increased risk of airway il lness. This would be an important task for occupational health service s in their aim of preventing the adverse effects of occupational expos ures.