Spray-painting and chronic airways obstruction.
BACKGROUND
The aim was to investigate the respiratory response of HDI-based paint aerosol within the context of the protection afforded by current exposure guidelines.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 240 painters spraying polyurethane enamels was undertaken at four aircraft maintenance plants. Questionnaire and spirometric data were related to gravimetric measures of cumulative total and respirable paint aerosol (TPA and RPA) and estimated isocyanate in total and respirable aerosols (TIA and RIA).


RESULTS
Average cumulative exposures in mg/m(3)-years +/- SD were 159.0 +/- 115.2 TPA, 19.1 +/- 13.8 RPA, 15.8 +/- 11.5 TIA, and 1.9 +/- 1.4 RIA. After adjusting for smoking and asthma symptoms, higher exposures were associated with statistically significant reduction in expiratory flowrates. Significant smoking-related reductions were also observed, without exposure interactions.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest important respiratory effects from exposures to spray paint aerosols at levels generally in compliance with existing standards for otherwise unregulated particulates and for the isocyanate component of the paint.
Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA. hank@tulane.edu
Henry W
HW
Glindmeyer
John J
JJ
Lefante
Roy J
RJ
Rando
Laurie
L
Freyder
Eva
E
Hnizdo
Robert N
RN
Jones
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010151:Paintings; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000209:etiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013147:Spirometry
D000336:Aerosols