Solvents Health Concerns

Many aromatic hydrocarbons are poisonous when inhaled and irritate the skin and eyes. Some aromatic hydrocarbons are poisonous upon skin contact. Many are carcinogenic.

Breathing vapor from solvents can lead to the following short-term effects on the nervous system:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Inability to think clearly (brain fog)

Other effects of exposure are as follows:

• Higher risk of cancer from occupational exposure (when exposed to solvents such as methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and benzene)
• Asphyxiation or death (when exposed to methylene chloride, the main solvent used in paint strippers, without proper ventilation)
• Neurodevelopmental effects (when exposed early in life to perchloroethylene in drinking water)

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