For definition of Groups, see Preamble Evaluation. The total number of painters is probably several millions, a major group being construction painters. Other industries in which large numbers of painters are employed include manufacture of transportation equipment and metal products, automotive and other refinishing operations and furniture manufacture. Thousands of chemical compounds are used in paint products as pigments, extenders, binders, solvents and additives.
Dermal contact is the other major source of exposure.
Painters are commonly exposed to solvents, the main ones being petroleum solvents, toluene, xylene, ketones, alcohols, esters and glycol ethers. Chlorinated hydrocarbons are used in paint strippers and less frequently in paint formulations. Benzene was used as a paint solvent in the past but is currently found in only small amounts in some petroleum solvent-based paints. Titanium dioxide and chromium and iron compounds are used widely as paint pigments, while lead was used commonly in the past. Exposure to silica may occur during the preparation of surfaces in construction and metal painting.