Prevalence of Occupational Asthma among the Paint Workers in the Automobile Manufacturing Industry of Hyderabad: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Paint shop workers are frequently exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous chemicals, placing them at high risk for respiratory morbidity.This study aimed to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, lung function impairments, and occupational asthma (OA) among paint shop workers of the automobile industry, and to evaluate the impact of protective measures.Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted among paint shop workers using structured questionnaires, pulmonary function tests (spirometry), and observational assessments of personal protective equipment (PPE) usage.Data on sociodemographic variables, smoking habits, occupational exposure, and PPE awareness and compliance were collected.Results: Of the participants, 92.3% were male, and 50% were aged 38-47 years.The majority (75.4%) had 1-10 years of job experience.Smoking prevalence was 34.6% (current or former smokers).Respiratory symptoms were common: 35.4% reported cough, 29.2% breathlessness, and 23.1% wheeze.Spirometry revealed that 41.5% had reduced forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second (FEV₁), 36.9% had low forced vital capacity (FVC), and 49.2% exhibited obstructive patterns.Occupational asthma was diagnosed in 13.1% of workers.A significant decline in FEV₁ was observed in workers with over 10 years of exposure (p = 0.012).While 75.4% reported mask usage, only 34.6% used PPE correctly.About 55.4% were aware of health hazards and used spray booths to prevent the inhalation of chemicals among other workers.There was a statistically significant association (χ² = 25.1, p < 0.001) between chemical exposure without PPE and the occurrence of respiratory morbidity.Conclusion: Respiratory symptoms and impaired lung function are highly prevalent among paint shop workers, particularly in those with prolonged exposure and inadequate PPE usage.Strengthening occupational health regulations, ensuring proper PPE usage, and periodic medical surveillance are crucial to reducing the burden of respiratory illnesses in this population.