Epidemiologic studies regarding solvent-based paints (SBPs) containing VOCs have demonstrated a strong correlation between chronic and acute adverse health effects and the SBPs. Therefore, new environmentally friendly paints as substitutes containing less or none VOCs have been rapidly developed in research for future sustainable use. However, a few studies focusing on penetration and exposure condition of the substitute have been reported duo to the complexity and inaccessibility of painting industry. Surveys specifically looking at the present status of exposure condition were conducted to ascertain the popularization of water-based paints (WBPs) which concluded that markers of SBPs were detected in all 134 samples indicating bad industrial penetration. VOCs exposure concentrations of painters ranged from 3.8 to 18.2mg/m3 for WBPs, 3.5×103 to 14.8×103mg/m3 for SBPs, respectively. The negative correlation between ambient concentration and breathing zone concentration suggested the former was incapable of representing the actual exposure concentration. The real-time concentration was proved to be closely associated with the activity patterns while the mean concentration level was found mostly dependent on the paint types. Authentic inhalation dose ranged from 7.68 to 15.84mg (WBPs) and 3.84 to 15.59g (SBPs), respectively, for occupational painters (work 8h per day) and the total inhalation dose was estimated through a new conception. The findings suggested that WBPs could significantly reduce VOCs emission and occupational exposure.
Keywords: Activity pattern; Occupational painter; Paint type; Real-time exposure; VOCs inhalation dose.
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