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Agent Name ORGANIC SOLVENTS
Alternative Name CLASS
Major Category Solvents
Category Other Solvents
Sources/Uses Many solvents are used in organic synthesis, but higher exposures to workers occur when these chemicals are used in open processes, e.g., as degreasers and as solvents for paints, dyes, and pesticides. [Ladou, p. 481] Highest exposures in the past occurred in dry cleaning, screen printing, rotogravure printing, industrial painting, manufacturing of glass reinforced plastic, and tile fixing; [Reference #2]
Comments Most industrial solvents are in a liquid state at room temperature. They are used to disperse other substances into solution, e.g., cleaning, degreasing, thinning, and extracting. Organic solvents include several classes of chemicals: hydrocarbons (aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic), petroleum distillates, alcohols, glycols, phenols, ketones, esters, ethers, glycol ethers, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons. [LaDou, p. 481-5] See the Disease, "Solvents, acute toxic effect."
Reference Link OSHA Technical Links: Solvents
Exposure Assessment
Skin Designation (ACGIH) Not evaluated
Reference Link Solvent neurotoxicity. [Occup Environ Med. 2006] - PubMed Result
Adverse Effects
Neurotoxin CNS Solvent Syndrome
Links to Other NLM Databases
Toxicity Information Search TOXNET
Related Information in Haz-Map
Diseases Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:
Processes Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:
Activities Activities with risk of exposure:





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Last updated: January, 2009