Occupational Asthma to UV-Hardened Acrylate-Based Car Paint

Products containing acrylates are used in the coating of metal surfaces. Previous case series have reported occupational asthma caused by various acrylates including solitary cases related to coating products. We report on a case of occupational asthma caused by a new type of UV-hardened car paint that included several reactive acrylates (tripropyleneglycol diacrylate, epoxy diacrylate, neopentylglycol propoxylate diacrylate and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane-triacrylate) in a car shop worker. The paint was sprayed a few times a day within 1-2 m distance from the patient. Two years after the product's introduction, this worker developed typical symptoms of occupational asthma, reversible airway obstruction, and eosinophilic airway inflammation. Workplace peak expiratory flow monitoring was typical for occupational asthma. The specific inhalation challenge showed positive early reaction, along with a significant post-challenge increase in nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness and markers of T2 inflammation, further supporting occupational asthma. The patient's asthma symptoms significantly improved once exposure to the offending agent was ceased. This is the first reported case of occupational asthma confirmed with specific inhalation challenge to a new type of UV-hardened car paint containing reactive acrylates.