Chronic pancreatitis possibly caused by occupational exposure to organic solvents

Acute pancreatic injury has been attributed to occupational exposure to chemical agents in workers, but there have been no previous reports of occupationally induced chronic pancreatitis. Severe chronic exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was found in a 29-year-old house painter, where other known causes of chronic pancreatitis could be ruled out. The patient had previously experienced abdominal pain and diarrhoea associated with exposure to spray paints followed by remission of the symptoms during vacations. Although the association between exposure and pancreatic insufficiency may be a random one, a possible causal relation should be further evaluated.