Neuropsychiatric symptoms in active construction painters with chronic solvent exposure

A cross-sectional study was performed to assess whether chronic solvent exposure of painters is associated with increased neuropsychologic symptoms. 401 painters and 209 construction workers without solvent exposure, both groups with at least 10 years of employment, were subjected to extensive clinical examinations. Standardized questionnaires were used for medical and occupational history. Painters reported an excess of specific symptoms that could be assigned to mood and behaviour. The differences between specific and unspecific questionnaire outcomes as well as the positive correlation between chronic exposure index and symptom scores support the hypothesis of solvent induced effects. These symptoms are related to life-long solvent exposure rather than current exposure levels. At present the questions of time course and reversibility or irreversibility of symptoms cannot be answered. The predictive value of these symptoms for subsequent neuropsychiatric morbidity remains to be elucidated in a future follow-up study.