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Reduce Exposure to Air Toxics in Collision Repair Shops

Health impacts from collision repair activities

  • Particulate matter (PM)
    • Asthma, heart attacks, bronchitis, premature mortality
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
    • Asthma and bronchitis
  • Hazardous air pollutants (HAP, also known as air toxics), including lead, chromium and cadmium
    • Neurotoxicity, lung cancer
  • Diisocyanates
    • A leading attributable cause of occupational asthma; skin and lung sensitization
  • Solvents
    • Irritation, headache, nausea, liver, kidney, nervous system damage

Potential benefits

  • Through implementing best practices, which include installing and maintaining control equipment and using safer paints and solvents, toxic exposures are expected to be reduced by 90 percent.
  • Shop owners also will reduce paint and solvent costs, as well as related hazardous waste disposal costs through this program.
  • The Campaign creates better environmental stewards, happier and healthier community neighbors and improves worker safety and health.
  • The Campaign will also better prepare the industry to comply with a federal rule designed to reduce auto body emissions.