The collision repair industry in the Puget Sound is composed of numerous small businesses with ineffective health and safety practices. Paint spraying and mixing painting process, besides being an inhalation hazard, contribute largely to a painter's dermal exposure. Isocyanates are present in high concentration in the final """"""""clear"""""""" coat. Isocyanates are known irritants, sensitizers, and a leading cause of work-related asthma in Washington State. Painters use respirators, but not necessarily gloves and coveralls to protect their skin. Little information currently is available on the effectiveness of protective clothing for spray painters because no systematic investigation for use with isocyanates has ever been conducted. The currently available information is largely focused on comfort, elasticity, lint-free qualities, or solvent resistance, rather than resistance to isocyanates. Manufacturer and supplier compatibility charts regarding protection from isocyanates is limited and conflicting. This is not surprising since isocyanates have chemical characteristics that make testing difficult with standard methods used for protective clothing. We are proposing a novel and systematic laboratory and workplace assessment of the efficacy of gloves and coveralls for protection against isocyanates. We recognize there are many variables affecting a worker's effective use of protective equipment. Therefore, we will also facilitate focus groups with painters to share our findings and assess strategies to implement future interventions. We will also develop an improved analytical method for detecting the complex mixtures of polyisocyanates in clear coats. Public Health Relevance: Isocyanates used in the auto-collision repair industry are recognized as an occupational asthma and these workers are at high risk for work-related asthma. protective clothing used in this industry lacks basic data on efficacy. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of protective clothing, such as gloves preventing isocyanate exposures among auto-collision repair workers. We will also develop an improved analytical method for detecting the complex mixtures of polyisocyanates in clear coats.

Public Health Relevance

Isocyanates used in the auto-collision repair industry are recognized as a occupational asthma and these workers are at high risk for work-related asthma. protective clothing used in this industry lacks basic data on efficacy. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of protective clothing, such as gloves preventing isocyanate exposures among auto-collision repair workers. We will also develop an improved analytical method for detecting the complex mixtures of polyisocyanates in clear coats.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01OH009364-03
Application #
8088180
Study Section
Safety and Occupational Health Study Section (SOH)
Program Officer
Potula, Viji
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2013-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$361,742
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Franklin, Gillian; Harari, Homero; Ahsan, Samavi et al. (2016) Residual Isocyanates in Medical Devices and Products: A Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment. Environ Health Insights 10:175-190
Ceballos, Diana M; Reeb-Whitaker, Carolyn; Sasakura, Miyoko et al. (2015) Protection efficacy of gloves against components of the solvent in a sprayed isocyanate coating utilizing a reciprocating permeation panel. Ann Occup Hyg 59:358-72
Ceballos, Diana; Reeb-Whitaker, Carolyn; Glazer, Patricia et al. (2014) Understanding factors that influence protective glove use among automotive spray painters. J Occup Environ Hyg 11:306-13
Ceballos, Diana M; Sasakura, Miyoko; Reeb-Whitaker, Carolyn et al. (2014) Testing of glove efficacy against sprayed isocyanate coatings utilizing a reciprocating permeation panel. Ann Occup Hyg 58:50-9
Ceballos, Diana M; Yost, Michael G; Whittaker, Stephen G et al. (2011) Development of a permeation panel to test dermal protective clothing against sprayed coatings. Ann Occup Hyg 55:214-27