Meta-analysis of spray paint exposure in auto body shops and occupational asthma

Background The National institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimated that at least 50,000 to 100,000 workers in the United States are exposed to harmful respiratory agents annually. Chemicals like isocyanates, which are one of the most recognized causing agents of occupational asthma, are present in spray paints used by auto body shop workers. Objectives 1) Identify the correlation between auto body shop spray paint and asthma; 2) Describe the harmful effects of chemicals like isocyanates present in auto body shop spray paint; and 3) Explain the preventive measures to lower exposure to harmful contents of auto body shop spray paint. Methods Team searched Pubmed and Hotwire with the terms “occupational”, “asthma”, and “spray paint” from 1960 to 2009. Results Through this review, it was discovered that routine monitoring of auto body shop workers' exposure to harmful contents of spray paint is only done in a few US states. Routine monitoring by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Oregon between 1980 and 1990 showed that 2/3 of the sample exceeded recommended exposure levels. It was also found that ventilation requirements were not met in 1/3 of the same facilities. Approximately 20% of the sample reported occupational asthma symptoms. Conclusion This information gathered should be used to plan better primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention measures to lower occupational exposure to spray paint. Future research should be done to find less harmful alternatives present in widely used spray paints today.