Car Paint & Kidney Damage

Research has brought forth that hydrocarbons and other chemicals in car paint can cause permanent kidney failure. For an auto body painter, this is a serious concern since long-term exposure is an occupational hazard. Take preventive steps and follow general safety guidelines issued by medical experts in order to prevent kidney damage

Research and Findings

• Studies have found that painters who constantly work around car paint are at serious risk for kidney damage. In studies cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are definite links between kidney failure and the hydrocarbons found in car paint. One study concluded that "hydrocarbon exposure has been shown to play an important role in the development of renal dysfunction in several occupational settings." This is just by hydrocarbons alone, but yet car paint contains myriad other chemicals as well, which can add to the overall toxicity of the human body.

Methods of Exposure

• There are two methods of exposure: inhalation and skin absorption. In inhalation, microscopic particulates floating in the air are inhaled, then the lungs dissolve them into the bloodstream. In skin absorption, the particulates land on the skin, and the chemicals leach into the skin, entering the bloodstream. The end effect of both methods is that the chemicals are no longer in the air but are now inside the human body, dissolved into the bloodstream and carried to all the organs.

Effects

• Once inside the human body, the chemicals in car paint begin to cause damage. Its important to note that all the organs are affected, not just the kidneys. If the chemicals are inhaled, lung damage first sets in. Then all the organs (the brain as well) start being damaged. Organs used to filter out toxins--particularly the liver and kidneys--are affected as well.

Symptoms and Treatment

• According to Medline Plus, a public information service of the NIH, the symptoms of kidney damage caused by by analgesic nephropathy (injury by toxins) and others are: blood in the urine; abdominal and renal pain; lethargy; decreased urine output and fever. With chronic toxic injury and lead poisoning, constipation, irritability and weight loss is common.

  The treatment varies according to the severity of the damage. It can range from bed rest and allowing the kidneys to heal themselves to chelation therapy. Surgical removal may be required if the kidney is damaged beyond repair. If both kidneys are damaged beyond repair, then the victim is faced with lifelong dialysis treatment.

Recommendations

• In this case, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends the following to limit exposure:

  Wear a full face respirator. Supplied air (outside air) respirators are preferred.
  Wear full-body overalls.
  Paint booths should be downdraft-type.