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Tox Town - Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play
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Why are auto shops a concern?

Auto shop workers use and are exposed to many chemicals that can be harmful to human health. 

Auto refinishers and painters use and are exposed to paint additives, solvents, volatile organic compounds, and isocyanates, chemicals used in automotive paints and foams that are the main cause of occupational asthma. 

Auto mechanics and repair workers use and are exposed to antifreeze, diesel fuel, gasoline, lead products, oil spills, solvents, and brakes or clutches that contain asbestos. Automotive glass installers and repair workers may handle solvents and products that cause allergic skin reactions.

All auto shop workers are exposed to emissions from vehicles when the engines are running, and may be exposed to oil and gasoline spills, hazardous waste, and leaks from above ground and underground storage tanks. Vehicle emissions include chemicals that can be harmful to human health, including benzene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds.


Web Links from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine)
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Occupational Health

More Links
Asbestos - Auto Brake and Clutch Repair Work (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Auto Air Conditioners and the Ozone Layer (Environmental Protection Agency)
Automotive Glass Installers. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine)
Automotive Mechanics. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine)
Automotive Refinishing Partnership (Environmental Protection Agency)
Household Products Database - Auto Products (National Library of Medicine)
National Automotive Environmental Compliance Assistance Center (Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair)
Oil Spills (Environmental Protection Agency)
Vehicle Washing (Environmental Protection Agency) PDF Icon
Virtual Home Garage (Environmental Protection Agency)
Virtual Repair Shop (Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair)

Chemicals in the Auto Shop
Are these chemicals in MY environment?
Acetone
Arsenic
Asbestos
Benzene
Carbon Monoxide
Diesel
Ethylene Glycol
Formaldehyde
Gasoline
Lead
Natural Gas
Nitrogen Oxides
Ozone
Particulate Matter
Perchloroethylene
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Propane
Solvents
Sulfur Dioxide
Toluene
Volatile Organic Compounds


Last Updated: November 10, 2008

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