Solvents in the workplace:

August 2019 the health hazards

Solvents cause the most damage Common workplace chemicals linked to liver
after being inhaled into the
respiratory system, where they and kidney damage, infertility and cancer
attack the lungs, brain, nervous Solvents haven’t historically attracted the same headlines as notorious substances
system and other organs. like asbestos or heavy-metal fumes, but their dangers are rapidly becoming known.
Recent studies have shown a clear correlation between benzene exposure and
leukaemia, scleroderma with mixed solvents, and renal cancer with chlorinated
Lungs: Can cause impaired
hydrocarbons, for example.*
pulmonary function and respiratory
disease. Asphyxiation can occur,
With over 13,000 deaths each year linked to the inhalation of chemicals and dust
especially with substances like
at work, it’s now clear that protective measures need to be taken to control risks
formaldehyde.
around solvents (also known as VOCs – volatile organic compounds). The HSE
estimates that 8% of the working population regularly use solvents in processes
Brain: Even at low levels of exposure,
such as degreasing, metal cleaning and adhesion, and they are also commonly
solvents can cause brain damage
utilised as paint thinners and lubricants.
alongside causing problems with
mood, memory, concentration and
This paper covers the composition and effects of solvents, the places and
dexterity.
professions most exposed to the dangers, and what can be done to protect workers
from the hazards. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 stipulates that
Nervous system: Several studies
employers must take reasonably practicable actions to protect their employees from
have linked short term (acute) and
these health hazards by identifying and monitoring the dangers, reducing risk and by
long term (chronic) damage to the
supplying protective equipment and clothing.
central nervous system with solvent
exposure.
*Source: www.businesswest.co.uk

Observe the icons on the

back of the solvent you are
using to assess the dangers

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Solvents and What is a solvent?
Workplace Exposure
Limits (WELs) A solvent is a substance used to dilute or dissolve another substance to create
a solution.
Many solvents have defined
exposure limits, set by the Most solvents used in industry are ‘organic’ petroleum-based chemicals and
Government. These limits (WELs) these can present extremely hazardous properties to workers as they release
must not be exceeded, averaged toxic gases.
over a specified time period.
Commonly used dangerous solvents include:
Benzene, for example, has an
8 hour limit of 3.25mg/m3 and
exceeding this limit is deemed Substance Used for
to be a health hazard. Companies
that do not adhere to WELs and Acetone Industrial coating
other good working practices with Trichloro ethylene Degreasing
regards to solvents, endanger their
Toluene Industrial coating, manufacture
employees and leave themselves
open to prosecution. Methylene chloride Paint removal
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) Printing ink
Perchloro ethylene Dry cleaning
White spirit Paints, printing ink

Find out about Solvents are an essential component of many

the solvent everyday items, such as tins of paint, varnish,
bitumen, paint strippers and thinning agents.
The supplier of the solvent or of
any other materials containing
solvents (e.g. paints, etc) will
provide a Safety Data Sheet. This
will give you information about:

• Whether the solvent readily

forms into dangerous vapour

• Whether Workplace Exposure

Limits have been defined for
that product How do solvents enter the body?
• How the solvent can be
1. Inhalation
absorbed into the body
Solvent gases have the quickest route into the body as they are breathed into
the lungs and are easily passed into the blood stream
• Whether there could be any
immediate or long-term
2. Ingestion
health impacts
Solvent can settle inside the nose, be sniffed in or swallowed. Contaminated
and unwashed hands can also lead to ingestion, e.g. if a worker doesn’t wash
his hands before having lunch.

3. Skin Absorption
Solvents can also be absorbed through the skin by direct contact. It is possible
for such substances to enter the bloodstream this way.

Even if the substance does not enter the body, solvents can present multiple health
hazards. Solvents present on an item of clothing can give serious burns, for example.

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“Rates of leukemia,
particularly acute myeloid
leukemia (AML), have
been found to be higher
in studies of workers
exposed to high levels of
benzene, such as those in
the chemical, shoemaking,
and oil refining industries.”
www.cancer.org
Neurotoxicity
and solvent use
Exposure to solvents can cause
short and long-term effects to the
brain and nervous system. This is
called ‘Neurotoxicity’. Symptoms
of neurotoxicity are:
Acute (Short-term)
Neurotoxicity
• Dizziness
• Euphoria
• Poor coordination
• Unsteady gait
• Fits
• Coma
Chronic (Long-term)
Neurotoxicity
• Personality changes
• Irritability
• Sleep disorders
• Short-term memory loss
• Reduced attention span
• Dementia
• Peripheral neuropathy
The health impacts of solvent exposure
Different solvents create different health problems, depending on the means of
exposure (inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption), the quantity involved and how
long exposure took place for.
Short-term exposures can cause:
Drying, cracking, reddening and blistering of the skin.
Headaches
Drowsiness
Poor coordination (which increases the risk of a secondary accident)
Nausea
Long-term exposures can cause:
Brain and nervous system damage
Chronic dermatitis (skin conditions)
Low blood platelet count causing bruising and anaemia
Liver damage
Blood forming system damage
Kidney damage
Pancreas damage
Damage to the fertility of both men and women
Damage to the foetus of a pregnant woman
Cancer
Solvents and cancer:
Numerous studies have now demonstrated strong relationships between the
uses of some solvents and cancer. A report compiled by Imperial College London in
2012 demonstrated that chlorinated hydrocarbons (often used as pesticides) are
carcinogenic to the pancreatic and renal systems, whereas the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC) has demonstrated that Benzene is particularly linked
to cancers of the blood. Their uses should be discontinued where possible.
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 Which workplaces are the most dangerous?
The jobs that carry the most risks are:

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

Solvents present a fire risk.
Agricultural chemicals commonly contain solvents including chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Rags and brushes soaked with
solvents need to be carefully
Construction and painting
cleaned and stored.
Many paints, paint strippers and varnishes often contain benzene, amongst other
carcinogens.
Remember that solvents can
also remain in tanks, vats and
Mining industries
tins, long after the contents
Separating or refining products can contain high levels of solvents.
have been removed.
Service industries
Cleaning agents and chemicals can contain dangerous solvents such as acetone.

Food manufacturing
Synergistic effects Solvents such as acetone are frequently used as a preservative.

Many solvents have ‘synergistic Distilleries

effects’ with other substances. This Methanol and ethyl alcohol are made heavy use of in production processes.
means that by combining use with
other substances, the level of harm Oil installations
caused by the solvent is amplified. Workers need to particularly be aware of exposure to solvents such as methanol.
E.g. If a construction worker uses a
solvent to lubricate machinery, and
then smokes a cigarette or drinks
alcohol, his or her health risks will
have increased.
Closer look: The building site
Building sites are notable hazardous and given the uses of solvents (to dissolve
greases and paints, and to thin or mix resins and glues, etc.) building contractors are
at immediate and pronounced risk of dangerous levels of exposure. Two of the most
hazardous areas of work are:

Paint and coat applications

Solvents like glycol-ether-esters are added to paints and spray paints to slow their
drying rates and to enable easier application.

Adhesives
In order to maintain their strength, weather resistance and shock resistance, glues
rely on the bonding qualities of benzene, cyclohexane, ethylhexane, n-hexane,
methylcyclohexane, butyl acetate and toluene – all of which carry serious risks to
human health.

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Solvents should never be used
to clean grease, paint etc.
from skin.
How can companies protect their workers
from the dangers of solvents?
To establish the actions you need to take, the HSE recommends considering:
Who is using solvents, particularly organic solvents? Does the use of the product
impact other workers or the general public?

Workspaces must be
adequately ventilated.
What products are being used? The higher the solvent, the greater the risk.
Research the volatility of the solvent and its health impacts. Look at the packaging
– what risks does it carry? Compile and maintain a COSHH (Control of Substances
Hazardous to Heath) Report that lists the substances you use and download the
product manufacturer’s Chemical Safety Data Sheets to understand the risks.

A ticking timebomb
The British Safety Industy
recently reported that breathing
in hazardous substances causes
many diverse health problems
over time. These include:
How will the product be used? There is a big health difference between applying with
a brush and spraying with a mister. Spraying releases more solvent gases into the
atmosphere.
Where will the product be used? Enclosed spaces increase the risk of over-exposure.
The presence or absence of ventilation, the room temperature and the surface area
all contribute to the level of risk.

• Nervous system disorders

• Bladder cancer
• Heart disease
• Damage to the reproductive
system

In a bid to reduce the number

of these conditions, the Health
and Safety Executive has been
running a campaign to improve
the use of respiratory protection
at work in order to prevent work-
related ill health.

When applying paints or adhesives

that contain solvents, the use of a
brush is recommended over spraying

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Other hazards Control and monitor
caused by solvents Physical barriers and equipment are the first line of defence against solvent
exposure. Bodies like the HSE and Breathe Freely recommend the use of
items such as:
Hazard 1
They settle on the floor, causing
• Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
a slip hazard
• Eye protection
• Gloves
• Overalls
Hazard 2
• Washing
They combust if they come into
• First aid kits
contact with electrical apparatus

All of the above helps to minimise personal exposure but how can companies control
Hazard 3 the environmental spread of solvents? In terms of lessening impact, personnel should
They burst into flames if ignited or follow product usage and disposal instructions as provided by the manufacturers.
placed near to a heat source

Fines
Over the past two years,
the HSE has achieved over
£72.6 million in fines resulting
from prosecutions taken,
or referred to COPFS for
prosecution.
Environmental Control
The most effective form
of environmental control
is to use a fume extraction
kit fitted with the most
appropriate filters.
Health and Safety specialists RVT recommend the Ravex Fume Extraction Kit.
This kit is extremely effective at extracting the toxic gases to the atmosphere,
substantially lowering the safety risk.

The Ravex fan robustly extracts a wide range of solvent gases and the kit also
works perfectly with long duct runs, making it ideal for large scale jobs as well as
for smaller projects. This provides uncompromising defence for contractors and the
One worker dies general public, preventing health hazards and legal action.
every 30 seconds
A recent report by the United
Nations warned that the exposure
of workers to toxic substances
has become a ‘global helath crisis’
Carbon Adsorption
with one worker dying every 30
seconds.
Where gases cannot be extracted to the
atmosphere, RVT recommends the use of
Baskut Tuncak, the UN Special
carbon filters. Solvent gases cannot be filtered
Rapporteur on Hazardous
mechanically as the particles are too small to
Substances and Wastes, recently
capture. Carbon filters contain charcoal – an
told the UN Human Rights Council
extremely porous material – that attracts and
that governments and companies
apprehends a wide range of solvents via a
must strengthen protection for
process called ‘adsorption’.
workers, their families and their
communities from any exposure
Image source: forbesgroup.co.uk
to toxic chemicals. He concluded
his report by stating that ‘inaction
is not an option’. Businesses have
a responsibility to respect, protect
and fulfil the rights of workers. Copyright © 2019 RVT Group Ltd