Objectives Genotoxic risk was evaluated for spray painters possibly exposed to polyester resins and acrylic enamel-based paints in automotive body repair shops.Methods DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) strand breaks and alkali-labile sites were measured in peripheral mononuclear blood cells ex vivo using the alkaline elution method. Samples of venous blood were taken on Monday after a free weekend and again on Friday from 38 male and 1 female spray painters and compared with the blood samples from 36 male and 3 female referents. The elution rate of each DNA sample was standardized by dividing it by the elution rate obtained from simultaneously sampled untreated Chinese hamster V79 cells.Results The spray painters showed a significantly (P