I worked my way thru college by working in the chem labs!
5 years! An old chem building with old hoods. I did work in printmaking in my mid 20's in an old art school with NO hoods.
I dropped silk screening early in the semester due to fumes making me ill. Most of the fumes in printmaking were from mineral spirits. The silkscreening however was Xylene. I've never understood if any of this was instrumental or actually causitive for me. I tend to focus on my thyroid, as that was actually something that could be tested for. I was never in those labs/rooms for long periods or every day for example.

But my PN didn't start until I was around 30-31. It progressed in my feet first, then my hands, and crested at 34-35, when I became pregnant.

It resolved for the most part, when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism finally (I think I had this all along). My hands are mostly good, but I protect them from severe activities, and wear a wrist brace some times. Sewing is often still painful for me. My feet improved the most with the thyroid treatment.