Occupational risk assessment of paint industry workers

• Published in: Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 52 - 58
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Hugo M, Dagostim, Gracilene P, da Silva, Arielle Mota, Tavares, Priscila, da Rosa, Luiz A Z C, de Andrade, Vanessa M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-05-2011; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Blood; Cancer; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; Lymphocytes; Manufacturing; Methods; Occupational hazards; Occupational health; Occupational health and safety; Officials and employees; Original; Paint industry; Paints; India; micronucleus test; paint industry workers; peripheral blood lymphocytes; oral mucosa cells; Comet assay
• ISSN: 0973-2284; 1998-3670
• DOI: 10.4103/0019-5278.90374

Thousands of chemical compounds are used in paint products, like pigments, extenders, binders, additives, and solvents (toluene, xylene, ketones, alcohols, esters, and glycol ethers). Paint manufacture workers are potentially exposed to the chemicals present in paint products although the patterns and levels of exposure to individual agents may differ from those of painters. The aim of the present study was to evaluate genome damage induced in peripheral blood lymphocytes and oral mucosa cells of paint industry workers.
Genotoxicity was evaluated using the alkaline Comet assay in blood lymphocytes and oral mucosa cells, and the Micronucleus test in oral mucosa cells. For the micronucleus test in exfoliated buccal cells, no significant difference was detected between the control and paint industry workers.
The Comet assay in epithelia buccal cells showed that the damage index (DI) and damage frequency (DF) observed in the exposed group were significantly higher relative to the control group (P≤0.05). In the same way, the Comet assay data in peripheral blood leukocytes showed that both analysis parameters (DI and DF) were significantly greater than that for the control group (P≤0.05).
Chronic occupational exposure to paints may lead to a slightly increased risk of genetic damage among paint industry workers.