Solvents commonly used by hundreds of painters are being blamed for a young Christchurch worker’s shock death from leukaemia. Jason Gibson, 29, experienced irrational mood swings, headaches, chronic lethargy and nosebleeds in the months before being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) last November. Six days later, he suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and died. Working as a painter was flagged as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1989.

IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, volume 47, Some organic solvents, resin monomers and related compounds, pigments and occupational Exposures in paint manufacture and painting, 1989 [pdf]. Risks 179.