IN AUTOMOTIVE PAINTING ANYWHERE FROM 5-40% OF PAINT JOBS NEED TO BE RETOUCHED DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF SURFACE DUST CONTAMINANTS. IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT PAINTING OPERATIONS APPEAR TO SUFFER FEWER REJECTS DUE TO PARTICLE CONTAMINATION WHEN THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF THE PAINT SHOP AREA IS HIGH. THE VARIABLES STUDIED INCLUDED RELATIVE HUMIDITY, DUST LOADING AND CIRCULATION AIR VELOCITY.