Paint occupational exposure

Paint manufacture and painting (occupational exposures in) Palygorskite... 

Prior to the 1990s phenyhnercuric acetate was the primary bactericide and fungicide in latex and waterborne paints. Because of the increasing concerns of mercury toxicity and the potential for high consumer and occupational exposures to mercury when present in paints, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) induced U.S. manufacturers of PMA and other mercury compounds to withdraw their registrations for use of these substances as biocides in paints (see AIercury). Mercury compounds are used only for very limited, specific purposes, such as the use of phenyhnercuric mXx.2LX.e[55-68-5] as a bactericide in cosmetic eye preparations (see Cosmetics). 

Epidemiological and Human Dosimetry Studies. The potential for occupational exposure exists in the use of 3,3 -dichlorobenzidine in the synthesis of 3,3 -dichlorobenzidine-based pigments for printing ink applications and to a lesser extent in paints. Workers exposed to 3,3 -dichlorobenzidine (and simultaneously to other chemicals) have complained of gastrointestinal upset, upper respiratory infection. 

Measured airborne and blood concentrations of ethylbenzene in several occupational settings are presented in Tables 3 and 4, respectively. Most occupational exposures to ethylbenzene result from use of products containing technical grades of mixed xylenes. No ethylbenzene was found from off-gassing of cured paint in a hyperbaric pressure chamber under normal atmospheric pressure, but under higher pressures, levels of 0.4-4.5 ppm [1.7-19.5 mg/m ] were measured (Lillo et al., 1990). Silk screen operations were found to entail exposure levels of less than 4 mg/m (Verhoeff et al., 1988). Ethylbenzene may also be present in low-grade toluene preparations (Inoue et al, 1995). 

Occupational exposure to ethylbenzene may occur by inhalation during its production and use. Most occupational exposures are related to technical grades of mixed xylenes used as solvents in various paints and coatings, inks, insecticides and in rubber and plastic production, as well as from the production and handling of gasoline and bitumen. Ethylbenzene from these sources as well as from vehicle emissions is ubiquitous at Xg/m levels in ambient air. It is a component of tobacco... 

Verhoeff, A.P., Suk, J. van Wijnen, J.H. (1988) Residential indoor air contamination by screen printing plants. Int. Arch, occup. environ. Health, 60, 201-209 Verschueren, K. (1996) Handbook of Environmental Data on Organic Chemicals, 3rd Ed., New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold, pp. 943-947 Vincent, R., Poirot, R, Subra, L, Rieger, B. Cicolella, A. (1994) Occupational exposure to organic solvents during paint stripping and painting operations in the aeronautical industry. Int Arch, occup. environ. Health, 65, 377-380... 

Diethanolamine is a viscous liquid widely used as a chemical intermediate and as a corrosion inhibitor and surface-active agent in various products including metalworking fluids, oils, fuels, paints, inks, cosmetic formulations and agricultural products. Occupational exposure may occur by inhalation and dermal contact, particularly in metal-machining occupations. No data were available on environmental exposure to... 

Some Organic Solvents, Resin Monomers and Related Compounds, Pigments and Occupational Exposures in Paint Manufacture and Painting 1989 535 pages... 

Hexamethylene diisocyanate is a highly reactive synthetic chemical that is widely used in the production of polyurethane materials. There is no natural somee of HDI. All of the potential exposures to this compound are associated with the production, handling, use, and disposal of HDI and HDI-containing products or materials. Exposures to HDI are often associated with exposures to its prepolymers, especially to a trimeric biinetic prepolymer of HDI (HDI-BT) (see Figure 5-Ia), whieh is widely used as a hardener in automobile and airplane paints, and whieh typieally contains 0.5-1% unreacted HDI (Alexandersson et al. 1987 Hulse 1984 Karol and Hauth 1982). There is evidence that diisocyanate prepolymers may induce asthma at the same or greater frequency as the monomers (Seguin et al. 1987) therefore, there is a need to assess the potential for human exposme to prepolymeric HDI as well as monomeric HDI. Except for limited data on occupational exposures, no information was foimd in the available literature related to the potential for human exposure to prepolymers of HDI. 

Prepolymeric HDI-BT paint formnlations, which generally contain 1% monomeric HDI, are now widely used for coatings applications, particularly in the automobile and airplane industries (Alexandersson et al. 1987 Karol 1986 Key-Schwartz 1992 Nielson et al. 1985 Rosenberg and Savolainen 1986 Rosenberg and Tuomi 1984). Consequently, many reported occupational exposures to HDI are actually exposures predominantly to HDI-BT (Karol 1986 Karol and Hauth 1982). Although isocyanate prepolymers are safer to use than the free monomers, primarily because of their lower vapor pressures, they can still pose a health risk to workers when inhaled in the aerosol form (Karol and Hauth 1982 Rosenberg and Tuomi 1984). There... 

Table 3 summarizes personal occupational exposures measured in various industries using dichloromethane. The levels vary widely by operation and within operations. Concentrations exceeding 1000 mg/m have been measined, e g., in paint stripping, in the printing industry and in the manufacture of plastics and synthetic fibres. Full-shift exposures to levels above 100 mg/m of dichloromethane are possible, e g., in furniture-stripping shops and in certain jobs in aeronautical, pharmaceutical, plastic and footwear industries. 

Vincent R., Poirot, P, Subra, I., Rieger, B. Cicolelle, A. (1994) Occupational exposure to organic solvents during paint stripping and painting operations in the aeronautical industry. Int. Arch, occup. environ. Health, 65, 377-380... 

According to the 1981-83 National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES, 1997), approximately 40 000 workers in the United States were potentially exposed to z7-butyl acrylate (see General Remarks). Occupational exposures may occur in its manufacture and use in the production of polymers and resins, including emulsion polymers for paints. 

I ARC (1989) I ARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 47, Some Organic Solvents, Resin Monomers and Related Compounds, Pigments and Occupational Exposures in Paint Manufacture and Paintings, Lyon, pp. 217-228... 

Nitropropane is produced in low volume and occupational exposures occur primarily in its production and use as a solvent in inks, adhesives, paints and coatings. Exposures of the general population may occur in ambient air and water near industrial sites manufacturing or using 2-nitropropane, in cigarette smoke, and possibly from its solvent uses. 

For paints emitting 2-butanonoxime, the risk posed by the maximum occupational exposure during typical use presents concerns regarding developmental toxicity health effects. 

Norback, D., Weislander, G. and Edling, C. (1995) Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other air pollutants from the indoor application of water-based paints. Annals Occupational Hygiene, 39, 783-94. 

---