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Appl Occup Environ Hyg

Title:		Worker exposure and health risks from volatile organic compounds utilized in the paint manufacturing industry of Kenya
Author(s):		Purvis KL; Jumba IO; Wandiga S; Zhang J; Kammen DM;
Address:		"Joint Science Department of the Claremont Colleges, California, USA"
Journal Title:		Appl Occup Environ Hyg
Year:		2001
Volume:		16
Issue:		11
Page Number:		1035 - 1042
DOI:		10.1080/104732201753214134
ISSN/ISBN:		1047-322X (Print) 1047-322X (Linking)
Abstract:		"This study provides a means for the evaluation of cleaner manufacturing and the provision of cost-effective worker health improvements in developing nations. Individual worker exposure to volatile organic compounds was measured in the paint manufacturing plants of Nairobi, Kenya. A variety of different paint production jobs were monitored, including laboratory researchers, mixers, tinters, fillers, cleaners, raw materials deliverers, and resins producers. Exposure levels were calculated based on a time-weighted average over an entire 8-10 hour workday. The paint solvents used can cause both acute and chronic health problems for the workers exposed. For example, over half of the organics monitored, i.e. benzene, styrene, and xylene, exhibit carcinogenic properties. The lifetime cancer risk from exposure to these paint solvents was estimated utilizing published cancer potencies, and the risks range from 1.90 x 10(-4) for raw materials deliverers to 2.60 x 10-2 for cleaners. The highest exposure tasks included cleaning the mixing vats and mixing the paint product, ranging from risks of 8.5 x 10(-4) to 2.6 x 10(-2), providing evidence that solvent exposure occurs due to point sources. Because of this, simple and inexpensive technologies should significantly reduce the excess exposure of workers in these manufacturing facilities. The cost of minor-innovations in the plants themselves, such as fans, drum and mixing vat covers, and respirators, could amount to as much as five times less than the estimated cost of treating workers who develop cancer due to paint solvent exposure"
Keywords:		Cost-Benefit Analysis Humans Industry Kenya Neoplasms/etiology *Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Organic Chemicals/analysis *Paint Program Development Risk Assessment Solvents/adverse effects/*analysis Volatilization;
Notes:		"MedlinePurvis, K L Jumba, I O Wandiga, S Zhang, J Kammen, D M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2002/01/05 Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 2001 Nov; 16(11):1035-42. doi: 10.1080/104732201753214134"