Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

1244 Tilman Hahn, Konrad Botzenhart, Fritz Schweinsberg, Gerhard Volland
Workers in the paint manufacturing industry and painters have experienced occupational
diseases, especially dermatosis affecting the hands and arms. 26-28 Whereas several
paint components have been shown to cause non-allergic and allergic contact eczema, organic
solvents were shown to provoke mainly non-allergic contact eczema and some solvents
cause only irritation (e.g., some ketones and esters).
In another study by Mancuso et al. 28 it was shown that the occupational contact dermatitis
of workers in shoe factories was probably a result of solvents in varnishes and adhesives.
This study was based on interviews, medical examinations and patch test series.
Eye diseases stemmed from both non-allergic and allergic reactions, and in some
cases corneal and lens changes were noted. 29
In a further study, 30 with water based paints there was a significant reduction in eye
and skin disease and worker discomfort on the job.
18.3.4.2.2 Neurological disorders
Indoor air immissions of organic solvents from paints and varnishes can cause neurological
disorders:
• Neuro-psychological and neuro-behavioral symptoms (e.g., subjective symptoms,
multiple chemical sensitivity - MCS)
• Neurophysiological symptoms
• Neurological diseases (e.g., polyneuropathy)
• Neuropsychiatric diseases
Other compounds in paints and varnishes apart from solvents can cause neurological
disorders (e.g., lead). However, it is difficult to prove that solvents specifically cause neurological
changes.
A study of production plants producing dyes and varnishes, 31 showed that mixtures of
organic solvents are responsible for several neurological and neurophysiological symptoms:
headache, dizziness, increased emotional excitability, memory and concentration disorders,
mood instability, fatigue. Neurological examinations, however, showed no
significant changes in the central and peripheral nervous system but EEG and VEP anomalies
were seen.
In contrast to the studies mentioned above, a study of shipyard spray painters 32 exposed
to xylene and mixed organic solvents described neurophysiological changes, e.g., decreased
nerve function and, in addition, neuropsychological symptoms, e.g., mood changes
and fatigue. Similar results including reduced nerve conduction were shown by workers exposed
to styrene. Other studies found several dose-response relationships between solvent
mixtures and neuro-behavioral effects among paint manufacturing employees and painters.
33,34 Significant relationships concerning the total amounts of hydrocarbons, lifetime exposure
and lifetime-weighted average were described.
In earlier reviews and cross-sectional studies, various symptoms and neuro-behavioral
effects were described for workers in the paint manufacturing industry, house painters, car
and industry painters, and shipyard painters. 35 Subjective symptoms (fatigue, loss of concentration,
emotional instability, short-term memory disorders, headache) or effects on
psychomotoric performance are examples of these symptoms. However, similar former
studies did not find symptoms in house painters using mainly water-based paints. 36
Different results were found concerning neuro-physiological changes and neurological
diseases. Electroencephalographic changes and a slight decrease in cerebral blood flow
of paint industry workers was noted by Oerbaek et al. 37 and there were occasional cases of