title: Solvent neurotoxicity in vehicle collision repair workers in New Zealand.
abstract: To assess whether solvent use and workplace practices in the vehicle collision repair industry are associated with symptoms of neurotoxicity in spray painters and panel beaters (auto body repair workers).
  
  
  
  Neurobehavioural symptoms were assessed using a cross-sectional study design in 370 vehicle collision repair and 211 reference workers using the EUROQUEST questionnaire. Full-shift airborne solvent levels were measured in a subset (n=92) of collision repair workers.
  
  
  
  Solvent exposures were higher in spray painters than in panel beaters, but levels were below current international exposure standards. Collision repair workers were more likely to report symptoms of neurotoxicity than reference workers with ORs of 2.0, 2.4 and 6.4 (all p<0.05) for reporting ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 symptoms respectively. This trend was generally strongest for panel beaters (ORs of 2.1, 3.3 and 8.2 for ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 symptoms respectively). Associations with specific symptom domains showed increased risks for neurological (OR 4.2), psychosomatic (OR 3.2), mood (OR 2.1), memory (OR 2.9) and memory and concentration symptoms combined (OR 2.4; all p<0.05). Workers who had worked for 10-19 years or 20+ years in the collision repair industry reported consistently more symptoms than those who had only worked less than 10 years even after adjusting for age. However, those who worked more than 20 years generally reported fewer symptoms than those who worked 10-19 years, suggesting a possible healthy worker survivor bias.
  
  
  
  Despite low airborne solvent exposures, vehicle collision repair spray painters and panel beaters continue to be at risk of symptoms of neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. Electronic address: s.keer@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keer
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prezant
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Washington University, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Echeverria
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGlothlin
authors.affiliation: Centre for eHealth & Centre for Person Centred Research, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Duncan R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Babbage
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Douwes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001336:Automobiles; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010150:Paint / Q000009:adverse effects; D012997:Solvents / Q000633:toxicity*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents
keywords: Neurobehavioural; Occupational; Panel beaters; Solvents; Spray painters