Effects of personal protective equipment use and good workplace hygiene on symptoms of neurotoxicity in solvent-exposed vehicle spray painters

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the association between the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and good workplace hygiene and symptoms of neurotoxicity in solvent-exposed vehicle spray painters. Methods: Exposure control measures including PPE-use and workplace hygiene practices and symptoms of neurotoxicity were assessed in 267 vehicle repair spray painters. Symptoms were assessed using an adapted version of the EUROQUEST Questionnaire. Results: Frequent respirator and glove use was inversely and significantly associated with symptoms of neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05 for trend) with the strongest protective effect found for consistent glove use (odds ratios [OR] 0.1-0.2, P < 0.01, for reporting =10 and =5 symptoms). A clear dose-response trend was also observed when combining frequency of respirator and glove use (P < 0.05 for reporting =5 and =10 symptoms), with an overall reduction in risk of 90% (OR, 0.1, P < 0.01) for those who consistently used both types of PPE. Protective effects were most pronounced for the symptom domains of 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, such as solvent exposure to multiple body parts (OR 3.4, P = 0.11 for reporting =10 symptoms), were associated with an increased risk of symptoms. When using a general workplace hygiene score derived from a combination of PPE-use and (good) workplace practice factors an inverse and significant dose-response trend was observed for reporting =5 (P < 0.01) and =10 symptoms (P < 0.01). Conclusions: This 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.