Nasal, eye, and skin irritation in dockyard painters

Citation

Semple S, Chenn R, Dick F & Seaton A (2001) Nasal, eye, and skin irritation in dockyard painters. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58 (8), pp. 542-543. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.8.542

Abstract
Objectives - To determine whether the risk of irritant symptoms in painters is related to their exposure to paint. Methods - The prevalences of skin, eye and nasal symptoms were compared in 260 United Kingdom and 109 Chinese dockyard painters, 539 British community controls, and 255 Chinese dockyard controls, relative to their exposure to paints. Results - Painters showed an excess of irritant symptoms compared with controls. Adjusted relative risks (RRs) (95% confidence interval (95% CI) were: for skin irritation 1.58 (1.19 to 2.08) in British painters and 2.68 (1.73 to 4.09) in Chinese painters; for eye irritation, 1.41 (0.98 to 2.05) and 3.01 (1.90 to 4.76); and for nasal irritation, 1.53 (1.10 to 2.14) and 6.73 (3.53 to 12.82), respectively. Exposure duration-response relations were found for these symptoms; the risks decreased with time after exposure ended. Conclusions - Irritant symptoms occur more often in dockyard painters than in controls, and this is likely to be a response to exposure to paint.

Journal
Occupational and Environmental Medicine: Volume 58, Issue 8

People

Professor Sean Semple

Professor, Institute for Social Marketing