Solvents As Contributors to Poor IAQ

What solvents are
Where solvents are found
Health problems associated with solvent exposure
Decreasing exposure to solvents

What Solvents Are

Solvents are mainly substances that can dissolve other substances. Though water is sometimes called the "universal solvent," most people mean organic solvents when they refer to these chemicals. Solvents are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) used to:

• Dissolve greases, oils and paints

• Thin or mix pigments, paints, glues, pesticides, and epoxy resins.

Where Solvents Are Found

Solvents include a variety of commonly used chemicals such as alcohol, mineral spirits, petroleum distillates, turpentine, benzene, toluene, hexane, methanol, esters, glycol ethers, heptane, xylene, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), gasoline, and kerosene. Early in the 20th century, there were perhaps only a dozen or so known and commonly used solvents. By 1981, there were approximately 350 different solvents commonly in use in the United States. Solvents are used in:

• Degreasing

• Dry cleaning

• Adhesives

• Carpet glues

• Cleaning fluids

• Epoxy resins

• Fuels

• Paints, varnishes, lacquers, and paint removers

• Plastics

• Textiles

• Printing inks

• Rubber products

• Floor polishes and waxes

• Cleaning products

• Refrigerants and coolants

• Thousands of other products at work and at home.

A common solvent that has the possibility of causing cancer in the blood forming cells (leukemia) is benzene. There are many consumer products, surface coatings, and materials found indoor that give off benzene vapors. These include latex paints, adhesives, marking pens and rubber products. Even though these items emit small amounts, when combined they account for about 20% of the total population exposure to benzene. That is because of the amount of time spent near these sources.¹

Health Problems Associated With Solvent Exposure

There are many factors that determine if one might get sick due to exposure to solvents. These include:

• The concentration and amount of solvents as well as their ability to evaporate into the air.

• The type of solvent. Some solvents are highly toxic (a small amount can harm you) and others are not very toxic (it takes a larger amount to cause harm).

• Personal characteristics such as age, gender, weight, general health status.

• How one is exposed to solvents. Solvents can go through your skin. For some solvents, the danger is as bad as if you breathe them. You can also accidentally swallow them if you eat or drink around solvents.

• Is a person exposed to just one solvent or a variety of solvents. Most people are exposed to a combination of several solvents (e.g., paint formulations, paint thinners, varnishes, etc.).
  
  When people think of being exposed to solvents, they only think of chemicals. But ethanol (drinking alcohol) is a type of organic solvent. The body treats many of these alcohols the same, so some people have been pulled over for DWI just because of their exposure to solvents. Then if somebody working around solvents also drinks alcoholic drinks, that adds to the amount of alcohol in the system and increases the chances of the solvent affecting their health.

• Length of time of exposure. The longer the exposure, the more at risk the one exposed is.

Health problems caused by solvents can either be acute, which occur immediately or within a few days of exposure, or they can be chronic, which are long-term health effects that might not show up for many years. The main health problems usually associated with organic solvent exposure include:

• Dizziness

• A light-headed feeling

• Lack of coordination

• Trouble concentrating

• Dry and cracked skin

• Skin rash

• Headaches

• Nausea

• Stomach pains

• Irritated eyes, nose, and throat

• Nervous system damage (main culprits are often n-hexane, perchloroethylene, and n-butyl mercaptan.)

• Kidney and liver damage (most often seen with toluene, carbon tetrachloride, 1,1,2-2-tetrachloroethane, and chloroform)

• Reproductive problems (such as sperm changes and infertility): Reproductive toxins in solvents include 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, methyl chloride, and many others.

• Irregular heart beat

• Skin lesions

• Cancer: Known or suspected solvent carcinogens include carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, perchloroethylene, perchloroethylene, methylene chloride and others

• Coma (high exposures, usually in a confined space)

• Death (high exposures, usually in a confined space)

Decreasing Exposure to Solvents 

• Use a safer product if possible. Some products are much less hazardous than others.

• Buy the smallest amount of solvents you will need.

• Do not open a container of solvents until you've found out what is in the product and what the hazards of that product may be. To find out the hazards, first check the label. You may find a list of ingredients, a safety warning, or both.

• Work with solvents only where there is fresh air; you cannot always smell solvents. Though you may have to use solvents indoors (like to glue tile or paint a wall), be sure to set an exhaust fan to pull the vapors away from you (have one fan in a window pull the vapors outdoors and one fan to pull in air from outside). A fan or open door may not be enough. If you're working outdoors, try to stay upwind from solvent vapors.

• Keep solvents off your skin and out of your eyes. If necessary, wear gloves and goggles. If you do get paints or solvents in your eyes, flush with water for 15 minutes. Never wash your hands or clothing with hazardous solvents.

• Try not to breathe solvents. Use the smallest container you can and keep lids on them when they are not being used. Keep your face away from solvents. Use a long-handled paint roller.

• Paper dust masks will not protect you against solvents. You need at least a half-mask respirator with a black organic-vapor cartridge.

• Do not eat, drink, or smoke when working around solvents. Anything you put in your mouth could have been contaminated by chemicals.

• If you've been working with solvents, be sure to wash your hands before eating, drinking, smoking or using the bathroom.

• Stop what you are doing if you notice symptoms. You may need to change the way you're doing the work, or wear protective equipment (like a respirator or gloves).

• Never use gasoline except as a fuel. Never clean up with flammable solvents.

• Store solvents in containers that are specially designed for flammable solvents.

• Keep flammable liquids away from rags and other materials that might catch on fire.

• Put rags that have solvents on them in special containers to prevent fire.

• Keep solvents away from chemicals called "oxidizers." This could result in fire. For example, there are common oxidizers in pool chemicals (like a pool shock treatment) that contain chlorine. There have been cases of these exploding in cars and garages if they come in contact with flammable materials like solvents.

• Keep fire extinguishers readily available, and make sure they are the right type. Different fire extinguishers are needed for different kinds of fires. Generally, the best type to have is a multipurpose (ABC) fire extinguisher since it is good for almost all types of fires.

Reference

1. Akland GG. Exposure of the general population to gasoline. Environ Health Perspec. 1993 Dec;101 Suppl 6:27-32.