A multidisciplinary cross-sectional study on solvent-related health effects in painters compared with construction workers

Objectives: The main aim of the study was to examine possible solvent-assoc iated effects on the nervous system in currently employed painters. Special attention was paid to evaluate subtle health effects. Materials and method s: A total of 401 painters and 209 construction workers without solvent exp osure with at least 10 years of professional experience were subjected to a clinical, neurological, psychiatric, neuropsychological and neurophysiolog ical examination. For personal medical and occupational history, standardiz ed questionnaires were used. A quantitative rating of exposure was obtained by expert rating of the respective occupational history without knowledge of the individual test results. Results: There was no excess of somatic dis orders or solvent-associated adverse effects on the nervous system. No dist inct effects of solvent exposure on nerve conduction velocities (NCV) or co gnition were found. Discrete NCV deficits in painters were not considered a sign of subclinical polyneuropathy. Painters, however, reported an excess of specific symptoms that could be assigned to "mood and behaviour". The di fferences between specific and non-specific questionnaire outcomes on the o ne hand and the positive correlation between chronic exposure index and sym ptom scores on the other hand support the hypothesis of solvent-induced eff ects. Because data is lacking on past solvent exposure, it is not possible to relate these effects to current exposure limits. Conclusions: Currently employed painters differ from controls not exposed to solvents with respect to the frequency of certain symptoms in mood and behaviour. These symptoms are related to life-long solvent exposure rather than to current exposure. At present, the issue of time course and reversibility or irreversibility of these symptoms cannot be answered. The predictive value for subsequent n europsychiatric morbidity remains to be elucidated in follow-up studies.