Background: Paints and coatings include paints,
varnishes, lacquers, stains, printing inks and more. A wide variety of volatile
solvents are used in paint and coating manufacturing including aliphatic and
aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones and consist of more than 30% of
most of paints. At low or moderate concentrations, the organic solvents may
cause transient symptoms such as euphoria, headache and dizziness. At high
concentrations, anaesthesia and disturbances in respiration and circulation may
occur and may lead to death. Long-term exposure may cause damage to the Central
Nervous System (CNS), such as cognitive and emotional deficits. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 92 male workers
exposed to organic solvents on performing their job in Koratol Paint Factory in
Alaama Village in Sharkia Governorate. Another group of 95 workers, not
working with organic solvents were selected from the Faculty of Medicine in
Zagazig University and considered as a control group. All participants in the study were subjected to a pre-designed
questionnaire to collect information about personal, socio-demographic data,
occupational history, use of personal protective equipments, frequently
perceived health complaints which included irritation symptoms (skin, eye and
nose) and Questions of the validated questionnaire for the neuropsychological
symptoms (Q22). Results: The neuropsychological
symptoms score (Q22) revealed that 63.04% of solvents exposed
paint manufacturing workers had neuropsychological symptoms, compared to about
only 2.1% in control group and the difference was statistically significant.
Regarding the relation between types of job done and results of neuropsychological
symptoms score (Q22) there was increased risk for neuropsychological symptoms
in production group than packing group (OR = 13.94) and for
the duration of work the risk increased in workers with duration over 15 years (OR = 32.84). Logistic
regression analysis showed that the most important predictors of
neuropsychological symptoms were the type of job performed by the workers such
as production or packing and their duration of work ≥15 years. Conclusions: The paint industry workers were at
increased risk of several irritant and neuropsychological symptoms which
significantly related to exposure to paint and organic solvents.