Despite low airborne solvent exposures, vehicle collision repair spray painters and panel beaters continue to be at risk of symptoms of neurotoxicity.

Dust-exposed construction workers have an increased risk of respiratory symptoms, but the efficacy of dust-control measures remains unclear. This study compared respiratory symptoms, using a modified European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire, between construction workers (n = 208) and a reference group of bus drivers and retail workers (n = 142). Within the construction workers, we assessed the effect of collective (on-tool vacuum/’wet-cut’ systems) and personal (respirators) exposure controls on symptom prevalence. Logistic regression assessed differences between groups, adjusted for age, ethnicity, and smoking status. Construction workers were more likely to cough with phlegm at least once a week (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7) and cough with phlegm ≥3 months/year for ≥2 years (OR 2.8, CI 1.2–7.0), but they had similar or fewer asthma symptoms. Construction workers who had worked for 11–20 years reported more cough/phlegm symptoms (OR 5.1, 1.7–15.0 for cough with phlegm ≥3 months/year for ≥2 years) than those who had worked <10 years (OR 1.9, 0.6–5.8), when compared to the reference group. Those who used ‘wet-cut’ methods reported less cough with phlegm, although the evidence for this association was weak (OR 0.4, CI 0.2–1.1 for cough with phlegm at least once a week); use of on-tool extraction showed a similar trend. No associations between respiratory protective equipment-use and symptoms were found. In conclusion, construction workers reported more symptoms suggestive of bronchitis, particularly those employed in the industry for >10 years. Use of collective dust exposure controls might protect against these symptoms, but this requires confirmation in a larger study.

ObjectivesTo assess whether contemporary solvent exposures in the vehicle collision repair industry are associated with objectively measured neuropsychological performance in collision repair workers.MethodsThe RBANS battery and additional tests were administered to 47 vehicle collision repair and 51 comparison workers randomly selected from a previous questionnaire study.ResultsCollision repair workers performed lower on tests of attention (digit span backwards: -1.5, 95% CI -2.4, -0.5; digit span total: -1.7, CI -3.3, -0.0; coding: -6.1, CI -9.9, -2.8; total attention scale: -9.3, CI -15.9, -2.8) and the RBANS total scale (-5.1, CI -9.1, -1.2). Additional tests also showed deficits in visual attention and reaction time (Trails B: -11.5, CI -22.4, -0.5) and motor speed/dexterity (coin rotation dominant hand & non-dominant: -2.9, CI -5.3, -0.4 and -3.1, CI -5.6, -0.7 respectively). The strongest associations were observed in panel beaters. Applying dichotomised RBANS outcomes based on the lowest percentile scores of a normative comparison group showed strongly increased risks for attention (5th percentile: OR 20.1, 95% CI 1.5, 263.3; 10th percentile: 8.8, CI 1.7, 46.2; and 20th percentile: 5.1, CI 1.5, 17.6, respectively). Those employed in the industry for ≤ 17 years (the median work duration) generally had lower scores in the attention domain scale and RBANS total scale compared to those employed >17 years suggesting a healthy worker survivor bias, but trends were inconsistent for other domains.ConclusionsThis study has found significant deficits in cognitive performance in collision repair workers despite low current airborne exposures in New Zealand.

Airborne solvent exposures in the collision repair industry were associated with job title, the design and location of exhaust ventilation and emission sources, and time spent on specific tasks, with the highest average and peak exposures shown for non-spray painting tasks. These findings provide a contemporary basis for intervention programmes to reduce airborne solvent exposures in this industry.

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ObjectivesSince the 1970s studies have shown that vehicle collision repair workers are at risk of exposure to organic solvent mixtures and their neurotoxic effects. Solvent exposures in this industry have generally declined in the past 20 years, but it is unclear whether this has been sufficient to prevent health effects. We have conducted a cross-sectional study to assess contemporary solvent exposures and neurotoxic symptoms in workers from the collision repair industry in New Zealand.MethodsNeurobehavioural symptoms were assessed in 370 collision repair workers (spray painters and panel beaters) and 215 reference workers from the construction industry using the EUROQUEST questionnaire. Full-shift solvent exposure levels were also determined in a subset (n = 92) of collision repair workers.Results Current solvent exposures were higher in spray painters than in panel beaters, but levels were well below current exposure standards. Collision repair workers were more likely to report neurobehavioural symptoms than reference workers with ORs of 2.0, 2.4 and 6.4 (p < 0.05) for reporting ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 symptoms respectively. Panel beaters generally had the greatest number of symptoms. Associations with specific symptom domains showed increased risk 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). Regardless of duration of employment in the industry collision repair workers were at higher risk of neurobehavioural symptoms than reference workers and some evidence of a dose-response trend was observed. However, this was likely weakened by a ‘healthy worker survivor bias’.ConclusionsDespite general reductions in solvent exposure in the collision repair industry and low measurements in the workshops involved, spray painters and panel beaters still appear to be at significant risk of neurobehavioural symptoms.

ObjectivesWe have recently shown that solvent-exposed collision repair workers (spray painters and panel beaters) in New Zealand are at an increased risk of both self-reported and objectively assessed neurobehavioural effects, indicating a need for more effective exposure controls. This study assessed the association between personal protective equipment (PPE) use and workplace hygiene and symptoms of neurotoxicity in vehicle spray painters.MethodsExposure controls including PPE-use and workplace hygiene practices and symptoms of neurotoxicity were assessed in 267 vehicle repair spray painters. Symptoms were assessed using the EUROQUEST questionnaire.ResultsFrequent respirator and glove use was inversely associated with symptoms of neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05 for trend). The strongest protective effect was found for consistent glove use (OR 0.1and 0.2, p<0.01, for reporting ≥10 and≥5 symptoms, respectively). A dose-response trend (p<0.05) was also observed when combining frequency of respirator and glove use, with an overall reduction in risk of 90% (OR 0.1 for reporting ≥10 and≥5 symptoms, p<0.01) for those who consistently used both. Protective effects were most pronounced for psychosomatic (p<0.05 for trend, for combined PPE use), mood (p<0.05) and memory and concentration symptoms combined (p<0.05), with reductions in risk of >80%. Poor hygiene workplace practices, e.g. solvent exposure to multiple body parts were associated with an increased risk of symptoms, but this was not statistically significant. When using a general workplace hygiene score derived from a combination of PPE-use and (good) workplace hygiene an inverse dose-response trend was observed for reporting ≥5 (p<0.01) and ≥10 symptoms (p<0.01).ConclusionsThis study has shown that PPE-use and good workplace hygiene are associated with a strongly reduced risk of symptoms of neurotoxicity in solvent-exposed vehicle spray painters. Glove use was most protective, suggesting dermal exposures may be of particular importance in the development of symptoms.