Dear Readers,

Monica writes Lifeline from a Stony Hill address, where she has just occupied a new newly painted home. In fact, painting was still being done as she wrote. Monica says that the house is making her ill. She is suffering from headaches, stuffiness, and chest tightness since she moved in and she thinks it's due to the painting. The cement work is all finished. She is thinking of moving back out temporarily with her two children and staying with her mother for a week or two if the symptoms persist. Monica asks Lifeline if she is allergic to the paint and how long she should stay away from the home.

Both fresh paint and just-poured cement can affect the lungs. Mostly, with cement, the risk occurs when the cement bags are opened and poured. Sanding and grinding of concrete can also release large amounts of dust, which contains silica.

In the short term, this exposure can result in irritation to the eyes and nose, choking, and difficulty breathing. Long term, repeated exposure can even lead to an eventually fatal lung disease called silicosis or it can even help stimulate lung cancer.

Paint fumes are not really all that toxic, but painting is also associated with some risks. The chemicals in paint will vary from company to company. Properly dried paint is not an issue at all. The problem is with the evaporating fumes, which come off the walls as the paint is drying. These fumes contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can and do cause immediate harm in some people, resulting in symptoms such as

Eye irritation

Respiratory irritation

Asthma

Sinusitis

Dizziness

Headaches

Memory problems

Blackouts.

Because these volatile compounds are absorbed directly into the lungs then travel to the blood stream, they can cause dizziness, headaches, or even loss of consciousness if the exposure is prolonged.

Because of this, it is important to take precautions to avoid exposure to the paint fumes as they evaporate from newly painted surfaces. Some precautions are:

Ventilate the area being painted so that the paint dries quickly and there is no build -up of paint fumes. Open all windows and turn on fans.

Wear a mask

Wear gloves

Take breaks from painting at regular intervals

Check the VOC content on paint tin labels and purchase paint with lower VOC content.

Studies show that long-term exposure to paint fumes is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma. Also, paint fumes are documented as harmful to pregnant women and are associated with an increased incidence of miscarriage and birth defects. There is also some increased risk of developing lung cancer, although the incidence is not high.

Children who are still growing and developing and pregnant women and asthmatics should stay away from paint fumes as much as possible.

Essentially, paint fumes can be dangerous to health, but if the area being painted is well ventilated, then the risk of developing complications is quite low.

It can sometimes take days for paint fumes to dissipate from a newly painted area. Susceptible individuals should avoid the environs of the newly painted area until the paint has fully dried out. This is because the VOCs that are emitted as gases from newly painted surfaces are readily inhaled. Water- based paints have less VOC than oil-based paints but are not free of these compounds, however, they are safer to use.

Statistics show that professional painters are at a 20 per cent greater risk of developing cancers, including lung cancer (World Health Organisation).

Other health problems associated with long-term exposure to paint fumes (VOCs) are:

Painter's dementia (central nervous system toxicity);

Decreased fertility;

Allergic rashes.

Reversible bone marrow and hepatic toxicity.

In view of the known complications associated with painting and the fact that Monica has two children and is herself probably experiencing the side effects of exposure to VOCs, it is a good idea for her to take the children and stay with her mother until the painting has been completed and the paint fully dry.

Write to: Lifeline, PO Box 1731, KGN 8

AJM