Access to data on chemical composition of products used in auto repair and body shops

Some information on chemical composition of products used in the workplace can be obtained by requesting composition data from product marketers. Workers in auto repair and body shops identified 253 products used in their shops. Full disclosure of composition was obtained for approximately 20% of the 174 products marketed by companies which answered our letters. Composition was partially disclosed for approximately 40% of the products, and about 10% of the product formulations were claimed to be trade secret or confidential. The study reported in this paper was carried out in New York State in 1980, before the effective date of the New York State right-to-know law. The results of this study can be used as a benchmark to judge the effectiveness of worker right-to-know laws and product labeling regulations.