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Environmental Health Information
<br />Solvents
<br />April 2009
<br />What are solvents?
<br />Solvents are liquids or gases that can dissolve or remove other substances. They are used to
<br />dissolve grease, oil, and paint; to thin or mix pigments, paint, glue, pesticides, and epoxy resins;
<br />to clean electronics, automotive parts, tools, and engines; and to make other chemicals.
<br />We use many products that contain solvents in our daily lives. Common uses include paint, ink,
<br />coatings, household cleaners, dry cleaning fluid, spot removers, adhesives, pharmaceuticals,
<br />personal care products, nail polish remover, microelectronics, automotive products, metal and
<br />vapor degreasers, paint strippers and thinners, refrigerants, foam -blowing agents, and coolants.
<br />Solvents are also widely used in industry. Industries that use solvents include dry cleaning,
<br />painting, printing, soap manufacturing, paint removing, textile manufacturing, asphalt paving,
<br />manufacturing of printed circuit boards and semiconductors, cleaning of printed circuit boards,
<br />agriculture and food production, pesticide application, hospitals, oil painting, and art restoration.
<br />The term "solvents" usually refers to organic solvents, which contain carbon. Organic solvents
<br />can be classified in three main types: oxygenated solvents, hydrocarbon solvents, and
<br />halogenated solvents. Most halogenated solvents contain chlorine and are then called chlorinated
<br />solvents. Because some solvents deplete the ozone layer, their use and production have been
<br />phased out.
<br />Oxygenated Solvents
<br />alcohols
<br />esters
<br />glycol ethers
<br />ketones (e.g., methyl ethyl ketone)
<br />Halogenated Solvents
<br />carbon tetrachloride
<br />chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
<br />chlorobenzene
<br />chloroform
<br />ethylene dichloride
<br />methylene chloride
<br />perchloroethylene (tetrachlorethylene)
<br />1,1,1 -trichloroethane (methyl chloroform)
<br />trichloroethylene (TCE)
<br />Hydrocarbon Solvents
<br />acetone
<br />acetonitrile
<br />benzene
<br />dioxane
<br />gasoline
<br />hexane
<br />kerosene
<br />methanol
<br />phenol
<br />styrene
<br />toluene
<br />turpentine
<br />xylene
<br />aliphatic hydrocarbons
<br />aromatic hydrocarbons
<br />IN l I;��
<br />VA. Minnesota Department of Health+Division of Environmental HealthtSite Assessment and Consultation Unit
<br />651.201.5000, or 1.800.657.3908, press O+www.health.state.mn.us
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