title: Systematic review of the effects of domestic paints on asthma related symptoms in people with or without asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of respiratory problems with chemical emissions from common indoor materials has been studied but the specific effect of domestic paint has not been widely investigated. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of experimental, occupational and epidemiological studies that examine the adverse respiratory effects of exposure to domestic paints.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search of PubMed together with consultation with an expert resulted in 997 articles published up to May 2011 of which 3 experimental, 4 occupational and 13 epidemiological studies met selection criteria and were included in the review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The occupational literature suggested that work as a (non-spray) painter increases the risk of asthma, but it provides little insight to the risks of painting in the domestic setting. All epidemiological studies, except one, reported associations with some asthma-like symptoms. In children at least there was evidence that painting was associated with wheezing, but the study designs and the exposure assessment were unsuitable to differentiate between acute and longer terms affects. We found the epidemiological evidence to be weak and certainly insufficient to infer causality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variable quality of the exposure assignment and heterogeneous study design makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions on whether domestic paint exposures cause or exacerbate asthma in children and/or adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova , Padova , Italy .
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cullinan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D012306:Risk; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds