Solvent Hazards Primer

[clamshavefeelingstoo]

I was inspired by this chart: http://www.gamblincolors.com/solvents/solvent.comparison.html

So I decided to make one based on naphtha, odorless mineral spirits, and d-limonene from common brands I found in (art and hardware) stores near me. This obviously only applies to these brands, because others may have slight variations, but I think it's a realistic representation.

Yes, I'm missing xylene, toluene, etc. Would anyone care to add them?


Solvent type: D-Limonene
Product name: “Grumbacher Grumtine”
MSDS: http://www.c2f.com/msds/GRU-GrumbacherGrumtine.PDF
Ingredients: D-Limonene 100%
CAS #: 5989-27-5
Base: Citris Peal
Evaporation rate: Fast
Harmful vapors: Yes
PEL (Permissible Exposure Level): 30
Absorbed through healthy skin?: Yes
Flash point: 109-118ºF
KB Value: N/A

Fact sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0918.html
OSHA literature: http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_249450.html


Solvent type: Naptha
Product name: Ace VM&P Naphtha
MSDS: Home
Ingredients: aliphatic petroleum distillate 95-100%
CAS #: 8032-32-4
Base: Petroleum
Evaporation rate: Moderate
Harmful vapors: Yes
PEL (Permissible Exposure Level): 300
Absorbed through healthy skin?: No
Flash point: 20-55°F
KB Value: 36

Fact sheet: CDC - NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - VM & P Naphtha



Solvent type: Odorless Mineral Spirits
Product name: “Gamblin Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits”
MSDS: http://www.gamblincolors.com/msds/gamsol.html
Ingredients: Hydrotreated heavy naphtha petroleum 100%
CAS #: 64742-48-9
Base: Petroleum
Evaporation rate: Moderate
Harmful vapors: Moderate
PEL (Permissible Exposure Level): 300
Absorbed through healthy skin?: No
Flash point: 104-145ºF
KB Value: 28

Fact sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng1380.html


Appendix:

Flash Point
The lowest temperature at which a solvent produces vapor in sufficient concentration to create a flammable mixture

PEL (Permissible Exposure Level)
Measured in parts per million, this OSHA standard rates solvents by how much solvent is safe to work around before the air is considered hazardous.

KB Value (Kauri-butanol Value)
The Kauri-butanol test measures the solvent power of a hydrocarbon.


Sources:

http://www.gamblincolors.com/solvents/solvent.comparison.html

Chemical Database (EnvironmentalChemistry.com)

environmentalchemistry.com

Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards | NIOSH | CDC

The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) informs workers, employers, and occupational health professionals about workplace chemicals and their hazards.

www.cdc.gov

I was actually very surprised to find out that d-limonene has very strict air exposure levels, probably because it evaporates very quickly.

Sample Substances & Air Quality Limits
Substance Air Quality Limit
ethyl alcohol (grain alcohol) 1,000 ppm OSHA PEL-TWA
odorless paint thinner, VM&P naphtha 300 ppm OSHA PEL-TWA
turpentine, xylene, coal tar naphtha 100 ppm OSHA PEL-TWA
n-hexane, toluene, styrene 50 ppm OSHA PEL-TWA
d-limonene 30 ppm AIHA WEEL-TWA

This article explains a lot: http://www.craftsreport.com/june96/labels.html



This should give you a basic understanding of HOW toxic certain solvents can be. The main risks are obviously from inhalation of vapors and handling the liquid. Skin exposure may be a mild risk, depending on absorption levels.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES AND A RESPIRATOR WHEN WORKING AROUND THESE CHEMICALS.

It is preferred to work outside around solvents that produce harmful vapors. However, when working inside make sure there is plenty of ventilation to the outside and a fan to circulate the air.

If a solvent comes in contact with your skin, scrub, scrub, scrub at it while washing the skin.

 

[SyZyGyPSy]

Thanks for the report! You're right, perhaps I was wrong to make it sound like limonene is completely safe. Agreed, adequate ventilation is a must.

Still, comparing OSHA and AIHA standards does seem a bit misleading... are there AIHA standards for those other chemicals?

There are supplements of coenzyme q10 on the market that contain 100mg of d-limonene, which it claims promotes healthy cell division. Can't say that about petro solvents!

Swim is very sensitive to chemicals in general, and agrees that he wouldn't wanna be in a room that was saturated with limonene vapors. However he can't stand to be around petroleum solvents at all... headaches, nausea, etc. come from just a single whiff of that stuff.

From everything Swim's read, and felt, limonene vapors only cause some irritation and sensitivity, no real permanent damage. And that paper you referenced mentions mice and liver damage/decreased life span, but doesn't say how they were exposed to the limonene, or how much, or for how long. That paper is really misleading... I'll bet if they did whatever they did to those mice using naptha or xylene instead of limonene, they'd've been a lot worse off.

While you're right to caution about ass-u-ming that limonene is completely safe, anyone who orders some and tries Swim's acetate-salt-a-huasca tek will see the difference right away. Swim's never going back to petroleum solvents... huffing dinosaur farts is a thing of the past, for him! Plus the plant spirits seem to appreciate it more, for whatever that's worth. 8)