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Spray‐painting and chronic airways obstruction
Author(s) -
Glindmeyer Henry W.,
Lefante John J.,
Rando Roy J.,
Freyder Laurie,
Hnizdo Eva,
Jones Robert N.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20054
Subject(s) - medicine , context (archaeology) , aerosol , asthma , respiratory system , occupational exposure , toxicology , environmental health , paleontology , physics , meteorology , biology
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. Am. J. Ind. Med. 46:104–111, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.