THE INDUSTRIAL USE OF SOLVENTS AND RISK OF NEUROTOXICITY *

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Abstract
The authors report their experience in the field of solvent pollution in three industrial areas where solvents are frequently used, i.e. shoe factories, printing plants and painting operations (furniture and mechanical industries). Environmental tests were carried out in 81 plants, for a total of 504 work places examined. The frequency of encountering certain neurotoxic solvents, such as n -hexane, or those which, on the basis of information in the literature, are suspected to be neurotoxic (e.g. cyclohexane and n -heptane) or considered potentiating (methyl ethyl ketone) is reported. A high risk of neurotoxicity is found in the shoe industry, not only because of the widespread use of glues containing these solvents, separately or in combination, but also because permissible TLVs are frequently exceeded. The risk of neurotoxicity is small in the printing industry and almost absent during painting operations. Lastly, some preventive aspects are discussed, with the aim of limiting exposure to specific hazards.

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