Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other air pollutants from the indoor application of water-based paints

Abstract

The increased use of water-based paints (WBP) has changed exposure conditions for Swedish house painters but few exposure measurements have been made during the indoor application of WBP. The main aim of this study was to identify and quantify exposure, particularly to volatile organic compounds (VOC), during the indoor application of water-based paint. A secondary aim was to evaluate the efficacy of different sampling adsorbents for the measurement of the major VOCs emitted from WBP. Exposure measurements of VOCs, formaldehyde, ammonia, dust and metals were performed by personal sampling during the indoor application of WBPs commonly used in Sweden. VOCs were sampled on different sorbents, and were analysed by gas chromatography with a mass selective detector. The desorbtion efficiency of different sorbents was also determined and XAD-7 was found to be the most appropriate for glycols and glycol ethers. Exposure to VOCs, formaldehyde, ammonia and metals was low, compared with current Swedish permissible exposure limit values (PEL) but dust exposures were found in excess of the PEL of 10 mg m−3. A large proportion of the VOCs consisted of propyleneglycol (PG), diglycol ethers, Texanol (2,2,4-trimethyl 1,3-pentanediol monoiso-butyrate), and iso-butanol. The introduction of water-based paints has improved the work environment for most house painters by reducing the total VOC exposure, but VOC exposure has now shifted towards compounds which are more polar and which have higher boiling points.