Assessment of carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substance exposure levels outside supplied-air respirators during shipboard spray painting in confined spaces.

Ship spray painting in confined shipboard spaces poses significant risks of chemical exposure, particularly to carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic (CMR) substances. This case report documents occupational exposure levels to CMR substances during spray painting operations at five shipyard companies in South Korea. Sampling was conducted during active spray painting, excluding preparation time, at eight measurement sites involving 15 workers using three painting products. Sampling devices were placed outside the supplied-air respirator facepiece to assess actual environmental exposure levels using activated charcoal tubes and passive samplers. The Exposure Index for mixed organic solvents exceeded 1 at all sites. Several CMR substances-including 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, toluene, ethylbenzene, methyl isobutyl ketone, and cyclohexanone-were detected above their occupational exposure limits, with 2-methoxyethanol reaching up to 44 times its TWA. These findings highlight the high-risk nature of confined-space spray painting and underscore the need for stringent protective measures and further research on CMR substance exposure management in shipbuilding.